Top 10 lesser-known facts about Australian Open

Think you know everything about the prestigious grand slam? Think again.

The Australian Open is the Grand Slam that starts the year for a tennis fan. It is the youngest of the four Grand Slam tournaments. However, over the years it has had a rich history as well. Today we are going to take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the Australian Open.

1. First match of Australian Open hosted on cricket ground

The Australian Open was hosted in the Warehouseman's Cricket ground in Melbourne in its inaugural year. Back then tennis was not so popular in Australia so for many years the tournament was hosted on cricket grounds. The tournament was named the Australian Championship when it started.

2. Total number of balls used every tournament

Everyone for once would have thought about the number of balls used in every tournament. Every year about 50,000 balls are used in the Australian Open. Moreover, in every tournament, about 300 boys and girls are selected to volunteer. 

The popularity of the Australian Open is so much that about 160,000 and 75,000 hotdogs and ice creams are consumed every year respectively.

3. Special rule for high summer temperatures

As we know Australia is in the southern hemisphere where it is summer during December and January. The summers of Australia are very hot and the temperature often crosses 40 degrees Celsius. 

These extreme conditions make it tough for the players to stay hydrated and maintain their energy levels. This is the reason why in 1998 a rules was made to deal with extreme temperature. According to it, the game could be halted if the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius. This rule is made keeping in mind the player's health. Moreover, in many stadiums, retractable roofs have also been installed to help both the players as well as spectators.

4. Ken Rosewall is a record holder

Ken Rosewall is considered one of the greatest tennis players. His career lasted more than two decades during which he won a total of eight grand slams. Out of the eight grand slams, four of them were Australian Open. 

Rosewall set a pretty amazing record as he is both the youngest as well as the oldest winner of the Australian open. In 1953 he won his first Australian Open at the age of 18. This was Rosewall's first Grand Slam as well. In 1973 at the age of 37 Rosewall again lifted the Grand Slam. This victory office created a very unique and rare record as he became the youngest, as well as the oldest winner of the Australian Open.

5. Only grand Slam who played in two different countries and multiple cities

The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam in the world that has been hosted in different countries and multiple cities. Since the start of the Grand Slam, it has been hosted in the Australian cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane. In New Zealand, it was hosted in Christchurch and Hastings in 1906 and 1912 respectively. 

Since 1972 Melbourne has become the official venue of Australian Open and it has hosted more than 50 tournaments. 

6. Youngest winner of Australian Open ever

Martina Hingis when she was 16 won the Australian Open this made her the youngest player ever to win the Australian opens. Martina Hingis started her playing career at the early age of 15 and within a year of being a professional, she won the Australian Open. This grand Slam set an all-time record for her being the youngest Australian Open winner.

7. Once tournament was played on grass court

The Australian Open started in 1905 and until 1987 the tournament was played on grass courts. For 82 years the tournament was played on a grass surface; however, after this, this surface was changed to a hard court. 

In 1988 Green Rebound Ace hard court surface was used. The same surface was used until 2007 after which a new surface known as  Blue Plexicushion hard court surface was used.

8. Only player to win grand Slam in both Grass Court and Hard Court 

We know that the Australian Open was previously played on a Grass Court and it is currently a Hard Court. Many players have played on both surfaces. However, Mats Wilander is the only player in the history of the Australian Open to win it on both surfaces. 

The Australian Open is considered by many as Wilander's favourite grand Slam as he has won it many times. He won the Grand Slam the same here the surface was changed. This makes Wilander the first and the only person to achieve this.

9. Longest match of the Australian Open

Tennis games or games are not a bond of time and it depends on the competing players how long a match would last. In 2012 the longest match of the Australian Open's history was played between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The game was 5 hours and 53 minutes long with both Nadal and Djokovic giving their best to win the match. Djokovic came out on top winning the game 7-5. 

10. Female players who won were paid less

Since the start of the participation of female players. One thing that has always been in the news is that female players are paid less than men. Over the years the gap in payments has decreased and by 2000 both the male and female players started receiving the same prize money. The allegations of female players getting paid less than male players have always been there.