Women's Tennis : 5 oldest Australian Open Champions

Australian Open organized its first Women's Singles Championship in 1922, 17 years after it was a male-only event. Until 1972, the event was held in multiple cities with Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide all playing host to the event. From 1972 to 1988, the tournament was played in the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club before being moved to the Melbourne Park in 1988. For a brief time, just like in the Men's event, the Women's event was also decided in a best-of-five set format before switching over to the best-of-three format.

Margaret Court Smith is the most successful Champion having won a record 11 titles here. Originally named Show Court One, the second biggest tennis arena in Melbourne was re-named in her honor as Margaret Court Arena in 2003. In the Open Era, Serena Williams leads with 7 titles.

The winner takes home the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Replica trophy named in honor of the 5-time Australian Open Champion. The 2018 winner Caroline Wozniacki took home a cool 4 million Australian Dollar in Prize Money. Serena Williams has confirmed her participation in the 2019 edition of the tournament making a fresh bid to set the all-time Grand Slam tally record. We take a look back at 5 of the oldest Australian Open Singles' Champions.

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#5 Li Na

Li Na with the Australian Open 2014 trophy

Chinese woman Li Na is the first athlete from Asia to win a Grand Slam Singles title. She achieved this feat at the 2011 French Open. Li Na is widely credited with popularizing the sport of tennis in China much like the way Yao Ming helped popularize basketball in China.

Li Na won the 2014 Australian Open beating Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets in the final. She attained a career-high WTA ranking of Number 2 in February 2014 before retiring from the sport in September. Her Australian Open triumph came when she was 31 years,333 days old.

#4 Coral Buttsworth

Coral Buttsworth was a prominent tennis player from Australia in the Pre- World War II era. She only took part in the Australian Open and did not record a single appearance in any other Grand Slam. She won the title in 1931 and successfully defended her title the following year. She was 32 years, 231 days old at the time.

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#3 Nancye Wynne Bolton

Nancye Wynne Bolton - second from right

Australian Nancye Wynne Bolton won a then-record 6 Australian Open titles. Her record was later eclipsed by Margaret Court and Serena Williams. Her total Grand Slam tally at the Australian Open is 20 including 10 Doubles titles and 4 Mixed Doubles titles. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006. Her last Australian Open Singles title came in 1951, 14 years after her first title. She was 34 years, 59 days old at the time.

#2 Thelma Coyne Long

Thelma Coyne Long

Australian Thelma Coyne Long won 2 Australian Open Singles titles, an astounding 12 Doubles titles and 4 Mixed Doubles titles. She was a multi-faceted personality who took to mentoring youngsters post her retirement. During the Second World War, she joined the Australian Women's Army Service and rose to the rank of Captain. For her wartime service, she was awarded the War Medal and the Australia Services, Medal. At the age of 94, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She won the last of her Australian Open Singles crowns at the age of 35 years,108 days.

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#1 Serena Williams

Serena Williams with her 2017 Australian Open trophy

The Australian Open of 2017 was unique in many ways. In the Men's and the Women's Draw, of the 8 semi-finalists, 6 of them were aged 30 or over - the first time such a scenario has taken place in tennis history.

The Women's final was contested by the Williams sisters - both aged over 35 at the time. Serena Williams and Roger Federer were the Champions and both of them were 35 years old making it the first instance that both the winners were aged 35 or over.

Serena Williams who was pregnant at the time won her 23rd Grand Slam title beating her sister Venus in the final. She was precisely 35 years, 124 days old at the time of her victory. She will look forward to winning the Australian Open for the 8th time when she competes in 2019.