2012 Australian Open


The 2012 Australian Open was a tennis tournament that took place in Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia from 16 to 29 January 2012. It was the 100th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. The tournament consisted of events for professional players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles play. Junior and wheelchair players competed in singles and doubles tournaments.
Novak Djokovic successfully defended his title after he defeated Rafael Nadal in the longest grand slam final in history. The 2012 final passed the 2008 Wimbledon final for the record, finishing after 5 hours and 53 minutes of play. Kim Clijsters was the defending champion for the women's singles, but lost to Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals. Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova for her first Grand Slam title; and over took Caroline Wozniacki as the number one ranked player on the WTA Tour. In the doubles Leander Paes and Radek Štěpánek won the title. Paes completed a career Grand Slam with the title while Štěpánek won his first Slam. On the women's side an all Russian duo of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva took the title. The mixed event was won by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecău.

Tournament

The 2012 Australian Open took place in January 2012 at Melbourne Park. The men's singles was staged for the 100th time. There have been 59 different previous winners and the 100th staging of the event was marked by a special coin and the 2012 Champion received a special medallion. The tournament also marked 50 years since Rod Laver won his first Grand Slam. For the first time Hawk-Eye ball tracking system was used on the Margaret Court Arena, while Ken Fletcher was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.

Points and prize money

Point distribution

Below is a series of tables for each of the competitions showing the ranking points on offer for each event.

Seniors points


Junior points


StageBoys SinglesBoys DoublesGirls SinglesGirls Doubles
Champion250180250180
Runner up180120180120
Semifinals1208012080
Quarterfinals80508050
Round of 1650305030
Round of 3230–30–
Qualifier who loses in first round25–25–
Qualifying Final Round20–20–

Wheelchair points


Prize money

The 2012 Australian Open was the richest Grand Slam tournament in history, with the singles champions pocketing 2.3 million dollars. All prize money is in Australian dollars ; doubles prize money is distributed per pair.

Men's and Women's Singles

Events

Seniors

Men's Singles

was the defending champion and won in the final 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5 against Rafael Nadal entering the season as reigning world number 1 for the first time of his career. It was the longest match in the history of the Australian Open, and in fact, the longest ever singles final in the Open Era in Grand Slam history; clocked at 5 hours and 53 minutes and ending after midnight with Nadal memorable saying after the match "good morning." It marked the fifth Grand Slam of Djokovic's career and his 3rd Australian Open. It also marked the first time that he had defended a Grand Slam title. After winning the 2012 Australian Open, Djokovic had an opportunity to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time, after winning the previous two in 2011. Nadal became the first player to lose in the final of three consecutive Grand Slams in the Open Era.
Championship match result
Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5

Women's Singles

won her first Grand Slam title, becoming the first Belarusian player to win a Grand Slam in singles, by defeating Maria Sharapova in the final. She also became the 21st player to be ranked World No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association on 30 January 2012 as a result of this win. It was Azarenka's 2nd title of the year and 10th of her career.
Championship match result
Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova, 6–3, 6–0

Men's Doubles

Leander Paes / Radek Štěpánek defeated Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan, 7–6, 6–2

Women's Doubles

Svetlana Kuznetsova / Vera Zvonareva defeated Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3

Mixed Doubles

Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Horia Tecău defeated Elena Vesnina / Leander Paes, 6–3, 5–7,

Juniors

Boys' Singles

Luke Saville defeated Filip Peliwo, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4

Girls' Singles

Taylor Townsend defeated Yulia Putintseva, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3

Boys' Doubles

Liam Broady / Joshua Ward-Hibbert defeated Adam Pavlásek / Filip Veger, 6–3, 6–2

Girls' Doubles

Gabrielle Andrews / Taylor Townsend defeated Irina Khromacheva / Danka Kovinić, 5–7, 7–5,

Other events

Wheelchair Men's Singles

Maikel Scheffers defeated Nicolas Peifer, 3–6, 7–6, 6–0

Wheelchair Women's Singles

Esther Vergeer defeated Aniek van Koot, 6–0, 6–0

Wheelchair Quad Singles

Peter Norfolk defeated David Wagner, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2

Wheelchair Men's Doubles

Ronald Vink / Robin Ammerlaan defeated Stéphane Houdet / Nicolas Peifer, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1

Wheelchair Women's Doubles

Esther Vergeer / Sharon Walraven defeated Aniek van Koot / Marjolein Buis, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4

Wheelchair Quad Doubles

Andrew Lapthorne / Peter Norfolk defeated David Wagner / Noam Gershony, 6–4, 6–2

Broadcast

The host broadcaster of the event was the Seven Network which ran all day and night coverage on its primary channel and its digital channel 7Two from 11 am until the close of play around midnight Melbourne time. 2012 is the first year Seven has aired live primetime play across the entire country, switching coverage to 7Two for various live news and Today Tonight broadcasts in different time zones of Australia. Associated media partnership Yahoo!7 saw more than 100 000 viewers check into live match coverage via the Fango mobile app, with check-ins peaking during the Hewitt vs. Djokovic match in the Open's fourth round.
The event was also shown in Australia on Fox Sports which broadcast secondary matches live.

Players

Seniors

Singles Seeds

Seeds and Rankings are as of 9 January 2012 and Points are as of 16 January 2012.
Men's Singles

SdRkPlayerPoints
Points
defending
Points wonNew pointsStatus
11 Novak Djokovic
13,630
2,000
2,000
13,630
Champion, won in the final against Rafael Nadal
22 Rafael Nadal
9,595
360
1,200
10,435
Runner-up, Final lost to Novak Djokovic
33 Roger Federer
8,010
720
720
8,010
Semifinals lost to Rafael Nadal
44 Andy Murray
7,380
1,200
720
6,900
Semifinals lost to Novak Djokovic
55 David Ferrer
4,925
720
360
4,565
Quarterfinals lost to Novak Djokovic
66 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
4,335
90
180
4,425
Fourth round lost to Kei Nishikori
77 Tomáš Berdych
3,700
360
360
3,700
Quarterfinals lost to Rafael Nadal
88 Mardy Fish
2,965
45
45
2,965
Second round lost to Alejandro Falla
99 Janko Tipsarević
2,655
45
90
2,700
Third round lost to Richard Gasquet
1010 Nicolás Almagro
2,380
180
180
2,380
Fourth round lost to Tomáš Berdych
1111 Juan Martín del Potro
2,315
45
360
2,630
Quarterfinals lost to Roger Federer
1212 Gilles Simon
2,005
45
45
2,005
Second round lost to Julien Benneteau
1314 Alexandr Dolgopolov
2,030
360
90
1,760
Third round lost to Bernard Tomic
1415 Gaël Monfils
1,970
90
90
1,970
Third round lost to Mikhail Kukushkin
1516 Andy Roddick
1,880
180
45
1,745
Second round retired against Lleyton Hewitt
1617 John Isner
1,800
90
90
1,800
Third round lost to Feliciano López
1718 Richard Gasquet
1,765
90
180
1,855
Fourth round lost to David Ferrer
1819 Feliciano López
1,755
45
180
1,890
Fourth round lost to Rafael Nadal
1921 Viktor Troicki
1,595
90
45
1,550
Second round lost to Mikhail Kukushkin
2022 Florian Mayer
1,630
45
0
1,585
withdrew due to hip strain
2123 Stanislas Wawrinka
1,615
360
90
1,345
Third round lost to Nicolás Almagro
2224 Fernando Verdasco
1,550
180
10
1,380
First round lost to Bernard Tomic
2325 Milos Raonic
1,460
205
90
1,345
Third round lost to Lleyton Hewitt
2426 Kei Nishikori
1,410
90
360
1,680
Quarterfinals lost to Andy Murray
2527 Juan Mónaco
1,335
45
10
1,300
First round lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber
2628 Marcel Granollers
1,315
10
45
1,350
Second round lost to Frederico Gil
2729 Juan Ignacio Chela
1,270
10
90
1,350
Third round lost to David Ferrer
2830 Ivan Ljubičić
1,270
90
10
1,190
First round lost to Lukáš Lacko
2931 Radek Štěpánek
1,230
45
10
1,195
First round lost to Nicolas Mahut
3032 Kevin Anderson
1,190
10
90
1,270
Third round lost to Tomáš Berdych
3133 Jürgen Melzer
1,170
180
10
1,000
First round lost to Ivo Karlović
3234 Alex Bogomolov, Jr.
1,135
45
45
1,135
Second round lost to Michaël Llodra

Withdrawn players (Men's Singles)

RankPlayerPoints
Points defending
New pointsWithdrew due to
13 Robin Söderling
2,120
180
1,940
mononucleosis
20 Marin Čilić
1,665
180
1,485
patella tendon injury

Women's Singles

SdRkPlayerPoints
Points
defending
Points wonNew pointsStatus
11 Caroline Wozniacki
7,485
900
500
7,085
Quarterfinals lost to Kim Clijsters
22 Petra Kvitová
7,290
500
900
7,690
Semifinals lost to Maria Sharapova
33 Victoria Azarenka
6,865
280
2,000
8,585
Champion, won in the final against Maria Sharapova
44 Maria Sharapova
6,440
280
1,400
7,560
Runner-up, Final lost to Victoria Azarenka
55 Li Na
5,570
1,400
280
4,450
Fourth round lost to Kim Clijsters
66 Samantha Stosur
5,585
160
5
5,430
First round lost to Sorana Cîrstea
77 Vera Zvonareva
5,435
900
160
4,695
Third round lost to Ekaterina Makarova
88 Agnieszka Radwańska
5,330
500
500
5,330
Quarterfinals lost to Victoria Azarenka
99 Marion Bartoli
4,710
100
160
4,770
Third round lost to Zheng Jie
1011 Francesca Schiavone
4,040
500
100
3,640
Second round lost to Romina Oprandi
1112 Kim Clijsters
3,041
2,000
900
1,941
Semifinals lost to Victoria Azarenka
1213 Serena Williams
3,300
0
280
3,580
Fourth round lost to Ekaterina Makarova
1314 Jelena Janković
3,115
100
280
3,295
Fourth round lost to Caroline Wozniacki
1415 Sabine Lisicki
2,903
280
3,143
Fourth round lost to Maria Sharapova
1516 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2,795
160
100
2,735
Second round lost to Vania King
1617 Peng Shuai
2,760
280
100
2,580
Second round lost to Iveta Benešová
1718 Dominika Cibulková
2,695
160
100
2,635
Second round lost to Gréta Arn
1819 Svetlana Kuznetsova
2,646
280
160
2,526
Third round lost to Sabine Lisicki
1920 Flavia Pennetta
2,570
280
5
2,295
First round lost to Nina Bratchikova
2021 Daniela Hantuchová
2,295
5
160
2,450
Third round lost to Kim Clijsters
2122 Ana Ivanovic
2,260
5
280
2,535
Fourth round lost to Petra Kvitová
2223 Julia Görges
2,225
160
280
2,345
Fourth round lost to Agnieszka Radwańska
2324 Roberta Vinci
2,115
5
100
2,210
Second round lost to Zheng Jie
2425 Lucie Šafářová
2,120
160
5
1,965
First round lost to Christina McHale
2526 Kaia Kanepi
2,049
100
100
2,049
Second round lost to Ekaterina Makarova
2627 Anabel Medina Garrigues
1,950
5
160
2,105
Third round retired against Li Na
2728 Maria Kirilenko
1,930
100
160
1,990
Third round retired against Petra Kvitová
2829 Yanina Wickmayer
2,050
100
5
1,955
First round lost to Galina Voskoboeva
2930 Nadia Petrova
1,765
160
100
1,705
Second round lost to Sara Errani
3031 Angelique Kerber
1,810
5
160
1,965
Third round lost to Maria Sharapova
3132 Monica Niculescu
1,725
160
160
1,725
Third round lost to Caroline Wozniacki
3233 Petra Cetkovská
1,666
100
1,748
Second round lost to Mona Barthel

Withdrawn players (Women's Singles)

RankPlayerPoints
Points defending
New pointsWithdrew due to
10 Andrea Petkovic
4,500
500
4,000
stress fracture

Main Draw Wildcard Entries

Men's Singles
Men's Singles
Men's Singles
The following players received as a Lucky Loser:
The following players were accepted directly into the main tournament, but withdrew with injuries.

Men's Singles

Women's Singles

Juniors

Below is a list of the sixteen seeds for the boys and girls singles and the eight qualifiers for each event.

Singles Seeds

Boys' Singles
Girls' Singles

Wheelchair Tennis

The field consisted of top seven ranked players in the men's and women's singles, the three top three ranked players in the quad singles category and one wildcard was chosen for each draw.

Singles Seeds

Men's Singles