1969 Australian Open

Last updated

1969 Australian Open
Date20–27 January 1969
Edition57th
Category Grand Slam (ITF)
Surface Grass
Location Brisbane, Australia
Venue Milton Courts
Champions
Men's singles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Women's singles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court
Men's doubles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Women's doubles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Judy Tegart-Dalton
Mixed doubles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court / Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ann Haydon-Jones / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Stolle
  1968  · Australian Open ·  1970  

The 1969 Australian Open was the first Australian Open and the final Grand Slam tournament to allow both amateur and professionals. The tournament was played in Brisbane on Milton's grass courts between a men's field of 48 and a women's field of 32. It was the 57th edition of the tournament, the 7th and last one held in Brisbane, and the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Contents

Tournament

The semi-final between Rod Laver and Tony Roche was played in 105-degree heat. That contest dragged on for more than four hours, both players putting wet cabbage leaves in their hats to help them keep cool. The Men's singles title was eventually won by Rod Laver defeating Andrés Gimeno. Margaret Court took her 8th singles title and the $1,500 prize from Billie Jean King and swept the tournament with Women's doubles and Mixed. The 1969 Australian Open was the only year in the Open era that a mixed doubles championship was staged, until resumption in 1987. Marty Riessen and Margaret Court shared the title with Fred Stolle and Ann Haydon-Jones because the final was not played due to a lack of time. It was also the last year that a junior mixed doubles championship was played, Australians Geoff Masters and Barbara Hawcroft taking the title. [1] [2] Laver's win was the first step towards his second Grand Slam.

Seniors

Men's singles

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver defeated Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Andrés Gimeno, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5

Women's singles

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court defeated Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King, 6–4, 6–1

Men's doubles

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson defeated Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Stolle, 6–4, 6–4

Women's doubles

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Judy Tegart-Dalton defeated Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals / Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King, 6–4, 6–4

Mixed doubles

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court / Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen and Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ann Haydon-Jones / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Stolle (Shared title – final not played)

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References

  1. "Australian Open:History (Year by year)". Australian Open. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  2. "Careles Laver Wins At Brisbane". The Morning Record. AP. 28 January 1969. p. 9.
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