A look back at 22 years of Australian Open winners

The Australian Open is always a sizzling hot start to the tennis year – and we mean that in every sense! Setting the tone for the tennis calendar, the Oz Open has seen some of the fiercest showdowns in modern tennis. Let’s take a look back at the players who have claimed their crowns in Melbourne over the last couple of decades.

André Agassi, nicknamed the 'Kid of Las Vegas' or 'Flipper' for his fast game, won the title four times. In addition to 2003, he also joined the men's roll of honor in 1995, 2000 and 2001.

2004 is the year in which Roger Federer, or 'King Roger' – considered one of the best tennis players of all time – won the Australian Open for the first time. During his career, he will be able to score six titles at the Oz Open, including 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2018.

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The only Oz Open title for former Number One Marat Safin, the ‘wild’ boy of Russian tennis. After retiring, he continued his career as a coach.

2008 was the first year another tennis champion, Novak Djokovic, claimed an Australian Open title. Djokovic has so far managed to win the famous tournament nine times. Alongside 2008, you can also count 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and 2023.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, has currently only won the gold in Australia on two occasions: in 2009 and in 2022.

Stanislas Wawrinka, famous for his powerful backhand, has only taken won an Australian Open final once, back in 2014.

Jannik Sinner crowned himself Australian Open champion after a fierce battle with Russia's Daniil Medvedev. The Italian took his first major, which proved to be the start of a breakout year for the-then 22-year-old.

Let us then look at the recent winners of the women's tournament. 2003 is the year of Serena Williams' first victory at the Australian Open. Subsequently, 'The Queen' won it six more times and always thrived at the event. In addition to 2003, Williams also took the top step of the podium in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2017.

Former player and current coach Justine Henin only took gold at this event on one occasion, the 2004 Australian Open.

For former French tennis icon Amelie Mauresmo, there was only one victory at the Australian Open, back in 2006. Even today, she is remembered for her incredible one-handed backhand.

Maria Sharapova, considered a tennis great, also only won gold in Australia. The retired legend was also the only Russian to win this Grand Slam.

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Kim Clijsters, a former Belgian tennis player who won first place in 2011, is also in the Australian Open honor's list.

Victoria Azarenka boasts consecutive titles at the Australian Open, both 2012 and 2013. Born in 1989, the Belarusian tennis player has had an incredible career and is a former World Number 1.

Na Li is a former Chinese player who was credited with popularizing the sport in her country. She took out the title in 2014.

Angelique Kerber, the German tennis player with Polish citizenship, got to hoist the trophy in 2016.

The Danish-born player won the title in 2018, her only Grand Slam win to date. Caroline Wozniacki was number 1 in the world for 71 weeks.

Born in 1997, Naomi Osaka joined the Australian Open titles list first in 2019, and again in 2021.

After winning the 2020 Australian Open, Sofia Kenin reached the fourth position in the world rankings in March 2020.

Despite her young age (25) and after winning the 2022 Australian Open, then World Number 1 Ash Barty decided to leave tennis in dramatic fashion with a video message posted on Instagram: "I gave everything I had for this sport, now I want to chase other dreams".

Since 2023, the Australian Open has held a special place for Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka thanks to her stunning win over reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in three sets, claiming her first Grand Slam win. She defended her title in 2024, her second Grand Slam win, and the World Number 1 is looking primed for a three-peat in 2025 too!

While both Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner are looking to defend their titles, there are threats all over the court at this year's Open. Who do you think is going to lift the trophy in 2025?

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