There are just a few hours left until the start of theAustralian Open 2025, the highly anticipated first Major of the season that will begin in Melbourne on January 12. Melbourne Park will be the center of the sports world for the next two weeks, considering all the athletes who - the best tennis players on the planet - will compete in the scorching climate of the Australian summer to win the much-dreamed-of title.
So many players, so many stories, so many matters. Jannik Sinner, defending champion who now also knows when the CAS hearing on the Clostebol doping issue will take place, which will be discussed on April 16 and 17 in Lausanne, behind closed doors.
Aryna Sabalenka comes from two consecutive titles at the AO: the Belarusian seems to have no rivals, but with Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and the other rivals, surprises will be around the corner. The same goes for the men's singles: Sinner's title defense will be threatened by the assaults of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and all the others.
But what have been the biggest surprises and upsets in the history of the Australian Open?
In 1984 Martina Navratilova, number one in the WTA ranking, seemed almost unbeatable. Having reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, she lost clearly against Helena Sukova 6-1 4-6 5-7. It was a defeat that surprised the world. In the final Sukova lost to Chris Evert in three sets.
It is also difficult to think that Steffi Graf, winner of the last 6 Slams in a row and with only one defeat in seven months, could lose a match. The impossible happened in Melbourne, when Amanda Coetzer defeated the German 6-2 7-5 in the fourth round of the tournament.
Ramesh Krishnan vs. Mats Wilander in the second round of 1989 was probably one of the most dramatic upsets of the Australian Open. Wilander, the world number 1 and defending champion, lost in the second round to Ramesh Krishnan in three sets, with the score of 3-6 2-6 6-7.
When Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of 2008, it was one of the biggest upsets ever in the history of the tournament. This was one of the biggest upsets of the last decade. Nadal's semifinal loss to the Frenchman was unexpected and incredible. Tsonga won 6-2 6-3 6-2, sweeping his opponent aside and reaching his first and only Grand Slam final.
It is impossible to imagine Serena Williams losing in the 2016 final against Angelique Kerber. Yet, starting as an outsider, the German defeated her rival in three sets, with the final score of 6-4 3-6 6-4.
