ss

Top five oldest champions of Australian Open

While it pays to have age on your side in a demanding sport such as tennis, several players have continued to win tournaments even as time catches up with them. They have faced a multitude of challenges to reach their current status, including injuries, inconsistent performance, unfortunate circumstances, and competition from emerging players in the next generation.

The Australian Open commenced in 1905 and has been held in various cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide. In 1988, Melbourne was established as the permanent venue for the first Grand Slam of the season. Numerous champions have chosen the tennis courts at Melbourne Park as their preferred competition, achieving multiple career victories there.

Li Na warrants particular recognition as the first Asian and one of the oldest competitors to secure the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, which is presented to the champion of the women’s singles event. The Chinese player was 31 years, 10 months when she won the 2014 Australian Open.

The stars demonstrated that age is merely a figure when they secured the Australian Open trophy during the later phases of their careers. 

In this article, let’s look at the five oldest champions in the history of the Australian Open.

Andre Agassi – 32 years, 8 months

 Andre Agassi - Top five oldest champions of Australian Open
Andre Agassi (Credits - Australian Open)

Agassi lifted four of his eight Grand Slam trophies at Melbourne Park. The American achieved his first victory in Melbourne in 1995, following his first major title triumph in New York the previous year.  He won three more Australian Open titles in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

The victory in 2003 came when he was almost 33 years old, positioning him among the oldest competitors to achieve success in Melbourne. During the decade starting in 1990, Agassi, together with fellow Americans Jim Courier and Pete Sampras, bagged wins at six of the ten editions. The 2003 title was also Agassi’s last Grand Slam title. 

Serena Williams – 35 years, 4 months

Serena Williams - Top five oldest champions of Australian Open
Serena Williams (Credits - Tennis.com)

Serena Williams is the most dominant player in the WTA, from the beginning of the open era. She has achieved an impressive total of 23 Grand Slam titles, falling just one short of the 24 titles secured by Margaret Court. Williams has claimed seven Australian Open titles, matching her remarkable tally of victories at Wimbledon.

Serena won the 2017 Australian Open, four months before her 35th birthday, becoming the oldest woman to win in Melbourne. This triumph marked one of ten Grand Slam titles she secured after reaching the age of 30, a record that still stands in the Open Era for the Women's Tennis Association.

Novak Djokovic – 35 years, 8 months

Novak Djokovic - Top five oldest champions of Australian Open
Novak Djokovic (Credits - Tennis.com)

Novak Djokovic has become the third oldest male player to win in Melbourne Park. In 2023, the Serbian accomplished this milestone by claiming his tenth title, thereby establishing a new record at the venue. At the age of 37, he has won the trophy more frequently in Melbourne than at any other Grand Slam event, with his seven titles at Wimbledon following closely behind.

Djokovic reclaimed the World No. 1 spot following his victory in the 2023 edition, marking the commencement of his unprecedented 374th week at the pinnacle of the rankings. He secured his first Australian Open title in 2008, making history as the first Serbian to achieve this feat.

Roger Federer –  36 years, 5 months

Roger Federer - Top five oldest champions of Australian Open
Roger Federer (Credits - Australian Open)

In 2018, Roger Federer won his sixth Australian Open title at the age of 36 years and 5 months, making him the second oldest player to achieve this feat at Melbourne Park. This victory also marked the 20th and final Grand Slam of his illustrious career.

The versatile Swiss maestro ended up with six Australian Open titles, two fewer than the eight he won at Wimbledon. It was at Wimbledon in 2003 that Federer embarked on his Grand Slam journey. Following his first Australian Open win in 2024, Federer rose to the ATP No. 1 ranking for the first time. It was the beginning of a record 237 weeks at the top.

Ken Rosewall – 37 years, 2 months 

Ken Roswell - Top five oldest champions of Australian Open
Ken Rosewall (Credits - Tennis.com)

Ken Rosewall was the first male player on the professional circuit to secure multiple victories at the Australian Open during the Open Era. He claimed the title in 1971 and successfully defended it in 1972. By achieving this feat, Rosewall set a record as the oldest champion of the tournament at the age of 37 years and 2 months.

The Australian had won the trophy twice before the Open Era got underway. They came in 1953 and 1955. During the Open Era, Rosewall achieved three titles, with his first being the French Open in 1968, followed by the Australian Open in 1971 and 1972.

Cover Credits - Tennis.com

Leave a Reply