Men's Tennis: 6 players with the most Australian Open titles

Arjun
Federer holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup 2018 - the trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian Open
Federer holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup 2018 - the trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian Open

The Australian Open, the youngest among the Grand Slams was established in the year 1905. In its 113 year history, the event has been held in 7 different cities (Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia, Hastings, and Christchurch in New Zealand).

The Australian Open is probably the most physically demanding of all the Grand Slams owing to the scorching Australian summer heat where temperatures can go up to 45 degree Celsius. An Extreme Heat Policy rule has been introduced and this year, the 10-minute break will be applicable to men too if the conditions become unplayable.

Athletes from 16 different countries have won the Australian Open over the years with the host nation leading the tally with its athletes winning a total of 50 titles till date (however only 6 of them have come in the Open Era).

The tournament has been played on 3 surfaces till date. Until 1987, it was played on grass and later till 2007 on Rebound Ace Surface. The present surface is the Plexicushion Prestige surface. Mats Wilander is the only player to have won the tournament on grass and Rebound Ace while Roger Federer is the only one to do on Rebound Ace and Plexicushion.

Here's a look at 6 of the most successful Australian Open champions.


# Jack Crawford - 4 titles

Jack Crawford - the first man to come close to winning a Calendar Slam before Don Budge did so in 1938
Jack Crawford - the first man to come close to winning a Calendar Slam before Don Budge did so in 1938

Australian tennis legend Jack Crawford was the first person to come close to completing the Calendar Slam. This was way back in 1933. Crawford won the Australian Open that year (back then the tournament was called Australasian Tennis Championships). Later he won the French Open as well as the Wimbledon Championships. He made the final of the US Open but fell short despite leading by two sets. His asthmatic condition meant that he lost in 5 sets to Fred Perry.

Crawford who was known to drink a glass of whiskey between sets was known for his technical skills more so than power. He won the Australasian Championships on 4 different occasions in 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1935.

# Andre Agassi - 4 titles

Andre Agassi with the 2003 Australian Open trophy - the last of his 8 Grand Slams
Andre Agassi with the 2003 Australian Open trophy - the last of his 8 Grand Slams

One of the most popular tennis faces, Andre Agassi is credited with popularizing the game of tennis in the 1990s. The first player in the Open Era to win the Golden Slam (all the Grand Slams and the Olympic Games Gold Medal), Agassi is widely considered to be among the greatest returners of serve.

Coached by the legendary Nick Bollettieri, Agassi was spotted by the legendary coach when he was just 13. Under the tutelage of one of the finest coaches ever, Agassi honed his skills to perfection. Though Agassi won all the Grand Slams, he had a particular liking for the Australian Open winning it 4 times in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003.


# Ken Rosewall - 4 titles

Ken Rosewall - the youngest and oldest winner of the Australian Open
Ken Rosewall - the youngest and oldest winner of the Australian Open

Another Australian tennis great, Ken Rosewall was a formidable player in the 1950s and 1960s. What makes Rosewall's wins at the Australian Open so special is that he is the youngest and also the oldest player to win the title here. His first title came at the age of 18 in 1953. 19 years later, in 1972, he won the Australian Open at the ripe age of 38 - making him the oldest Grand Slam winner in the Open Era.

A 1980 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, Rosewall won a total of 4 Australian Open titles.

# Roy Emerson - 6 titles

Roy Emerson
Roy Emerson

The third Australian in the list is Roy Emerson. One of the most successful tennis players in the Amateur Era, Roy Emerson is the only male player to have won at least 2 or more Grand Slams titles in both Singles and Doubles categories.

A supremely fit athlete, Emerson's game was built on the serve and volley style but that did not deter him from adapting to the slower surfaces enabling him most notably to win the French Open twice in 1963 and 1967. Emerson's tally of 12 Grand Slam wins stood for many years before it was surpassed by Pete Sampras. Emerson who won 6 Australian Open titles is the only man to have done so for five consecutive years between 1963 to 1967 inclusive.

# Novak Djokovic - 6 titles

Novak Djokovic celebrates his first Australian Open triumph in 2008
Novak Djokovic celebrates his first Australian Open triumph in 2008

Novak Djokovic who now has 14 Grand Slam titles grabbed his very first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open of 2008. Over the years, Djokovic has made Melbourne one of his most favored stomping grounds and his success at the Australian Open have contributed to him getting billed as one of the top 3 greatest hard court players of all-time.

Djokovic has never lost the Australian Open whenever he has made the final. He won the title here consecutively from 2011 to 2013, before winning again in 2015 and 2016 to give him a joint highest 6 titles at the Australian Open. Of noteworthy mention is his 2012 Australian Open triumph where he beat Rafael Nadal in the final in what is without a doubt one of the greatest ever Grand Slam matches to have ever been played.

# Roger Federer - 6 titles

Roger Federer arrives in Zurich after winning his record 6th Australian Open title in 2018
Roger Federer arrives in Zurich after winning his record 6th Australian Open title in 2018

Widely considered to be the greatest of all-time, on account of his prolonged success in such a demanding sport, Roger Federer is the symbol of longevity in sports. At an age when most of his peers have hung their racquets, Federer still seems to be going strong.

After uncharacteristically having endured a barren run in Grand Slams for 4 years from 2013 to 2016 inclusive, Federer finally broke the jinx at the 2017 Australian Open.

Seeded outside the top 15 on account of having missed the bulk of the 2016 season due to injury, Federer was stretched and faced off against his old foe Nadal in a throwback to their epic 2009 final clash. The result was different this time as a jubilant Federer finally won his long-awaited 18th Grand Slam title. The following year he remarkably retained his title at the age of 36. 2019 will see him bid to become the oldest ever Grand Slam winner in the Open Era surpassing Ken Rosewall's record.

Prior to 2017, Federer has won the Australian Open on 4 different occasions in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010. In fact, he is the only player apart from Serena Williams to have won the title on Rebound Ace as well as Plexicushion surfaces.

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