2016 Australian Open
The 2016 Australian Open was the 104th edition of the Australian Open, a Grand Slam tennis tournament held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 18 to 31 January 2016.[1][2] It marked the first major of the tennis calendar year and featured a record total prize money purse of A$44 million, with singles champions earning A$3.85 million each.[3] In men's singles, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic defended his title by defeating Andy Murray in the final, 6–1, 7–5, 7–6(7–3), securing his sixth Australian Open crown and equaling Roy Emerson's Open Era record for most men's singles titles at the event.[4] In women's singles, seventh seed Angelique Kerber claimed her maiden Grand Slam title with a 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 upset victory over top seed and defending champion Serena Williams in the final, denying Williams a record-tying 22nd major singles crown.[5] The men's doubles title was won by Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, who came back to beat Daniel Nestor and Radek Štěpánek 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 in the final.[6] In women's doubles, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza prevailed over Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká 7–6(7–1), 6–3 to lift the trophy.[7] Mixed doubles was captured by Elena Vesnina and Bruno Soares (the latter completing a doubles double), who edged Coco Vandeweghe and Horia Tecău 6–4, 4–6, [10–5] in the championship match.[8] The tournament drew widespread attention for its high-quality finals and the emergence of Kerber as a new force in women's tennis, alongside Djokovic's continued dominance on hard courts.Tournament overview
Dates and venue
The 2016 Australian Open, the 104th edition of the tournament and the first Grand Slam event of the year, was held from 18 to 31 January at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.[2][9][10] Melbourne Park served as the central venue, encompassing Rod Laver Arena as the flagship show court with a capacity of 15,000 seats, Hisense Arena as the secondary arena, Margaret Court Arena, and a total of 39 courts including multiple outer courts for preliminary and supporting matches.[11][12] The setup allowed for extensive daily programming, with Rod Laver Arena hosting the majority of high-profile singles and doubles finals under its retractable roof to mitigate weather disruptions.[13] The tournament drew a record total attendance of 720,363 spectators across the two-week period, surpassing the previous year's figure and underscoring the event's growing popularity as a major international sporting spectacle.Format and events
The 2016 Australian Open followed the standard Grand Slam format for draw sizes and match structures. The singles events featured 128-player draws for both men and women, with men's matches played as best-of-five sets and women's matches as best-of-three sets. Doubles draws consisted of 64 teams for men's, women's, and mixed doubles, all contested as best-of-three sets.[14] The tournament encompassed a wide range of event categories to accommodate various levels of competition. Senior events included men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles for professional players. Junior competitions, limited to players under 18, featured boys' and girls' singles and doubles. Wheelchair tennis events comprised men's and women's singles and doubles, along with quad singles and quad doubles for players with quadriplegia. Additionally, legends doubles events were held for retired professionals, divided into age-based categories such as over-30s, over-40s, over-50s, and over-60s, played in a fast-paced format.[15] Scoring adhered to International Tennis Federation (ITF) rules as applied in Grand Slam tournaments. Sets were decided by the first player or team to win six games with a two-game margin, or via a seven-point tiebreak at 6-6 games, except in the deciding set of senior men's singles and all doubles events, where play continued to a two-game advantage without a tiebreak. Women's singles, being best-of-three sets, used tiebreaks in all sets at 6-6. Junior events employed best-of-three sets with tiebreaks in every set. Wheelchair and quad events utilized no-ad scoring (first to four points wins the game) and a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a third set for doubles. Legends events typically used tiebreak sets (first to seven points) across short matches.Surface and conditions
The 2016 Australian Open was contested on Plexicushion Prestige hard courts, a blue acrylic surface that had been in use at Melbourne Park since 2008, replacing the previous green Rebound Ace.[16] This medium-fast surface, classified under International Tennis Federation (ITF) Court Pace Rating category 4, featured a speed rating reflected in an ace-based surface index of 1.25, making it the fastest among Grand Slams that year.[17][18] The top layer, an acrylic coating mixed with silica sand particles, ensured consistent medium-high bounce and sure footing, while underlying rubber cushioning provided shock absorption to reduce player fatigue.[19] Court preparations involved annual resurfacing with six specialized layers: three base coats incorporating large rubber granules for cushioning and three finishing coats with finer granules and sand for texture and pace control.[16] Formulated for Melbourne's variable climate, the Plexicushion system was engineered for enhanced durability, capable of withstanding court surface temperatures up to 63°C (147°F) without significant degradation in playability.[19] No major modifications were made for 2016, maintaining the established medium-fast characteristics tested by ITF-accredited labs to ensure uniformity across all courts.[19] Weather conditions during the tournament, held from January 18 to 31, featured typical summer heat, with opening-day highs reaching 36°C (97°F) and daily highs ranging from 18°C to 36°C (64°F to 97°F), averaging approximately 26°C (79°F). The Extreme Heat Policy, based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) thresholds exceeding 32.5°C, was activated during qualifying rounds on January 13, suspending play for about two hours amid 42°C (108°F) conditions to protect player health. Although no suspensions occurred in the main draw, elevated temperatures contributed to a 41% rise in heat-related medical incidents per WBGT zone, including increased on-court doctor calls and post-match treatments.[22] These conditions influenced gameplay, with hotter WBGT levels (>28–32°C) correlating to a 2.5% drop in winners and 7.1% fewer net approaches per zone, as players adopted more conservative, baseline-oriented strategies to conserve energy.[22] Conversely, aces rose by 5% and return points won by 1.75% in heat, aided by the Plexicushion's speed, which amplified ball velocity—particularly for serves—while the surface's consistent bounce remained stable despite thermal expansion.[22][18] The combination favored aggressive servers like Novak Djokovic, who capitalized on the faster ball behavior in warmer air, which increases internal pressure and trajectory.[23]Media coverage
Broadcast partners
The 2016 Australian Open was broadcast internationally by key partners including the Seven Network in Australia, ESPN in the United States, and Eurosport across Europe. These broadcasters delivered comprehensive live coverage of the tournament's main draw matches from Rod Laver Arena and other courts at Melbourne Park.[24][25][26] In Australia, the Seven Network provided live telecasts of marquee matches on Channel 7, with overflow coverage on 7Two and 7mate, spanning daily sessions from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time and extending into evenings for prime-time events, resulting in over 140 hours of television airtime. Complementing this, the newly launched free 7Tennis mobile app enabled streaming of every match, enhancing accessibility for domestic audiences.[24] ESPN's U.S. coverage featured more than 100 hours of live programming across ESPN and ESPN2, focusing on night sessions and high-profile encounters, while WatchESPN streamed nearly 1,400 hours including all singles matches and select doubles. Eurosport offered pan-European live broadcasts on its linear channels, with full tournament access via the Eurosport Player, covering over 200 hours of on-demand and live content.[25][26] Commentary teams brought expert analysis to the broadcasts. ESPN's lineup included veteran analyst John McEnroe, alongside Patrick McEnroe, Mary Joe Fernandez, and host Chris McKendry, providing insights during key matches. For the Seven Network, Lleyton Hewitt debuted as a commentator, joining hosts Bruce McAvaney and Johanna Griggs, with additional input from former players like John Fitzgerald. Eurosport featured a team led by Barbara Schett and including Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander for tactical breakdowns.[25][27][28] Broadcast innovations for 2016 emphasized enhanced high-definition production across all partners, delivering sharper visuals of rallies and court action. The Seven Network's 7Tennis app represented a digital milestone, offering multi-court streaming and interactive features to engage mobile viewers in real time.[24]Viewership and attendance
The 2016 Australian Open achieved a record total attendance of 720,363 spectators over the course of the tournament, surpassing the previous year's figure of 703,899 and marking the highest on-site crowd in the event's history.[29] This included a middle Saturday combined day/night session that drew 81,094 fans, also a tournament record, reflecting strong local and international interest in the expanded facilities at Melbourne Park.[29] Television viewership in Australia was substantial, with the men's singles final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray averaging 2.163 million national viewers on the Seven Network, including 1.619 million in metropolitan areas.[30] Globally, the tournament generated 676 million viewing hours and reached a potential audience of 1.76 billion free-to-air viewers across more than 200 countries, broadcast to over 900 million homes daily.[29] Digital engagement was robust, with the official AusOpen.com website attracting more than 14 million unique visitors and accumulating 30.2 million video views across digital and social channels.[29] The event also featured streaming of over 600 live matches from all courts, contributing to a total social media audience of 3.7 million followers.[29]Participants and entries
Top seeds
The seeds for the 2016 Australian Open were determined based on the ATP and WTA rankings as of January 11, 2016, with adjustments made for any withdrawals to promote higher-ranked players into seeding positions.[31]Men's Singles Seeds
The men's singles draw featured 32 seeds, led by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia. The full list of seeds is as follows:| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | SRB |
| 2 | Andy Murray | GBR |
| 3 | Roger Federer | SUI |
| 4 | Stan Wawrinka | SUI |
| 5 | Rafael Nadal | ESP |
| 6 | Tomas Berdych | CZE |
| 7 | Kei Nishikori | JPN |
| 8 | David Ferrer | ESP |
| 9 | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | FRA |
| 10 | John Isner | USA |
| 11 | Kevin Anderson | RSA |
| 12 | Marin Cilic | CRO |
| 13 | Milos Raonic | CAN |
| 14 | Gilles Simon | FRA |
| 15 | David Goffin | BEL |
| 16 | Bernard Tomic | AUS |
| 17 | Benoit Paire | FRA |
| 18 | Feliciano Lopez | ESP |
| 19 | Dominic Thiem | AUT |
| 20 | Fabio Fognini | ITA |
| 21 | Viktor Troicki | SRB |
| 22 | Ivo Karlovic | CRO |
| 23 | Gael Monfils | FRA |
| 24 | Roberto Bautista Agut | ESP |
| 25 | Jack Sock | USA |
| 26 | Guillermo Garcia-Lopez | ESP |
| 27 | Grigor Dimitrov | BUL |
| 28 | Andreas Seppi | ITA |
| 29 | Nick Kyrgios | AUS |
| 30 | Jeremy Chardy | FRA |
| 31 | Steve Johnson | USA |
| 32 | Joao Sousa | POR |
Women's Singles Seeds
Serena Williams of the United States, the world No. 1 and defending champion, topped the women's singles seeds. The full list of 32 seeds is as follows:| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serena Williams | USA |
| 2 | Simona Halep | ROU |
| 3 | Garbiñe Muguruza | ESP |
| 4 | Agnieszka Radwanska | POL |
| 5 | Maria Sharapova | RUS |
| 6 | Petra Kvitova | CZE |
| 7 | Angelique Kerber | GER |
| 8 | Venus Williams | USA |
| 9 | Karolina Pliskova | CZE |
| 10 | Carla Suárez Navarro | ESP |
| 11 | Timea Bacsinszky | SUI |
| 12 | Belinda Bencic | SUI |
| 13 | Roberta Vinci | ITA |
| 14 | Victoria Azarenka | BLR |
| 15 | Madison Keys | USA |
| 16 | Caroline Wozniacki | DEN |
| 17 | Sara Errani | ITA |
| 18 | Elina Svitolina | UKR |
| 19 | Jelena Jankovic | SRB |
| 20 | Ana Ivanovic | SRB |
| 21 | Ekaterina Makarova | RUS |
| 22 | Andrea Petkovic | GER |
| 23 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | RUS |
| 24 | Sloane Stephens | USA |
| 25 | Samantha Stosur | AUS |
| 26 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova | RUS |
| 27 | Anna Karolina Schmiedlova | SVK |
| 28 | Kristina Mladenovic | FRA |
| 29 | Irina-Camelia Begu | ROU |
| 30 | Sabine Lisicki | GER |
| 31 | Lesia Tsurenko | UKR |
| 32 | Caroline Garcia | FRA |
Doubles Seeds
In men's doubles, the top seeds were Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands and Horia Tecău of Romania, who advanced to the quarterfinals before their elimination. Other notable seeded pairs included Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Marcelo Melo of Brazil as the No. 2 seeds. Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil, seeded No. 8, won the title. In women's doubles, the No. 1 seeds were Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Sania Mirza of India, who defeated the No. 7 seeds Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká of the Czech Republic in the final to claim the championship.[33]Wildcard entries
Wildcard entries into the main draws of the 2016 Australian Open were granted by Tennis Australia, prioritizing Australian players, those returning from injury or retirement, emerging talents, and international representatives through reciprocal agreements and regional playoffs. Eight wildcards were awarded in both men's and women's singles, while several pairs received entries in the doubles events to promote local participation and global diversity. The selection emphasized players with potential to inspire home crowds, such as retiring legends and young prospects, alongside winners of designated wildcard challenges like the Australian Open Wildcard Challenge (AOWC) and the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff.[34][35]Men's Singles Wildcards
The men's singles wildcards included a mix of Australian veterans, rising stars, and international recipients from playoff victories and reciprocal deals. Notable among them was Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No. 1, receiving a farewell entry in his home event. Other Australians like Omar Jasika and James Duckworth, the latter via the AOWC win, highlighted the focus on domestic talent development. International spots went to Yoshihito Nishioka (Asia-Pacific Playoff winner), Noah Rubin (USTA Wild Card Challenge winner), and Quentin Halys (French Tennis Federation reciprocal). The full list comprised:| Player | Nationality | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Lleyton Hewitt | AUS | Internal selection (retirement entry) |
| Omar Jasika | AUS | Internal selection |
| James Duckworth | AUS | AOWC winner |
| Yoshihito Nishioka | JPN | Asia-Pacific Playoff winner |
| Quentin Halys | FRA | FFT reciprocal |
| Noah Rubin | USA | USTA reciprocal |
| Jordan Thompson | AUS | Internal selection |
| Matthew Ebden | AUS | Internal selection |
Women's Singles Wildcards
In women's singles, wildcards similarly supported Australian juniors and professionals alongside global partners. Other Australians included Maddison Inglis (AOWC winner), Priscilla Hon (18-and-under AOWC winner), and Kimberly Birrell, emphasizing youth development. International entries featured Xinyun Han (Asia-Pacific Playoff winner), Samantha Crawford (USTA Wild Card Challenge winner), and Océane Dodin (French Tennis Federation reciprocal). The complete recipients were:| Player | Nationality | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Priscilla Hon | AUS | 18/u AOWC winner |
| Maddison Inglis | AUS | AOWC winner |
| Tammi Patterson | AUS | Pro Tour winner |
| Xinyun Han | CHN | Asia-Pacific Playoff winner |
| Océane Dodin | FRA | FFT reciprocal |
| Samantha Crawford | USA | USTA reciprocal |
| Kimberly Birrell | AUS | Internal selection |
| Storm Sanders | AUS | Internal selection |
Doubles Wildcards
Doubles wildcards were allocated to pairs promoting Australian teams and international collaborations, often pairing experienced players with emerging ones. In men's doubles, entries included Lleyton Hewitt with Sam Groth, providing the retiring star a final competitive outing, and young Australian pairs like Omar Jasika/Nick Kyrgios and James Duckworth/John Millman. Other teams featured local talents such as Alex Bolt/Andrew Whittington and Luke Saville/John-Patrick Smith, alongside international duos like Austin Krajicek/Donald Young (USA) and Cheng-Peng Hsieh/Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE). For women's doubles, wildcards went to Australian combinations like Jessica Moore/Storm Sanders (playoff winners) and Monique Adamczak/Jocelyn Gaujard, focusing on building domestic depth. Representative examples underscore the priority on home players and potential comebacks.[36][37]Qualifier entries
The qualifying competitions for the 2016 Australian Open took place from January 11 to 15 at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, featuring 128-player single-elimination draws for men's and women's singles to determine 16 and 12 main draw entrants, respectively.[38] In the men's singles, 16 players advanced to the main draw, including Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans, who defeated opponents in straight sets during the final rounds to secure his spot.[39] Other notable qualifiers included Slovakia's Jozef Kovalík and the United States' Tim Smyczek, both of whom navigated competitive paths to earn entry. Additionally, American Bjorn Fratangelo entered as the lucky loser following the withdrawal of Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu, replacing a qualifier after losing in the final round of qualifying.[40] For women's singles, 12 players qualified without any lucky losers advancing to the main draw. Among them were Japan's Naomi Osaka and Risa Ozaki, both of whom won three matches each to reach the main event for the first time at a Grand Slam. Osaka, then ranked No. 127, overcame challenging opponents in her qualifying run, including a decisive victory in the final round, showcasing her emerging power and resilience on hard courts.[41][42][43]Protected rankings
The protected ranking system, established by the ATP and WTA, enables players sidelined by injury, illness, or other approved circumstances for at least six months to freeze their ranking at a pre-absence level for tournament entry purposes. This ranking is calculated as the average of a player's best six months' positions from the 12 months prior to the injury or an equivalent metric based on their highest ranking in the preceding three years, allowing them to compete without the full penalty of lost points during their absence.[44] The system supports up to nine tournament entries (or 12 for absences exceeding 12 months) within 12 months of return, but protected rankings cannot be used for seeding positions.[44] In the 2016 Australian Open, several players utilized protected rankings to secure direct entry into the men's and women's singles main draws, bypassing the need for qualifying despite their current rankings having dropped significantly due to extended absences. Notable men's entrants included Tommy Haas (protected ranking No. 25), who withdrew prior to the event due to a shoulder injury; Janko Tipsarević (No. 37); Julien Benneteau (No. 39); Tommy Robredo (No. 22); Dmitry Tursunov (No. 48); and Brian Baker (No. 64), each returning from injuries that had interrupted their 2015 seasons.[45][46] These players gained main-draw spots that would otherwise have required wildcards or qualifiers, preserving competitive opportunities while adhering to the tournament's 128-player limit. On the women's side, five players entered using protected rankings under similar WTA guidelines, which mirror the ATP's framework for eligibility and usage. Examples include Petra Cetkovska (protected ranking No. 32), returning from a back injury; Alisa Kleybanova (No. 42), post-viral illness complications; and Galina Voskoboeva (No. 71).[45] None of these women advanced beyond the first round, but the provision ensured their participation without further ranking erosion. Overall, the protected ranking mechanism had minimal impact on seeding, as top seeds remained based on live rankings, but it facilitated a diverse field by reintegrating experienced players early in their recovery.[44]Withdrawals and retirements
Several players withdrew from the 2016 Australian Open prior to the start of the main draw, primarily due to injuries and personal reasons, resulting in reshuffles to the singles draws as lucky losers from qualifying entered the tournament. In the men's singles, there were 12 such withdrawals, including Richard Gasquet, who cited a back injury as the reason for his absence; he was replaced by lucky loser Evgeny Donskoy. Other notable men's withdrawals included Juan Mónaco (abdominal injury), which prompted alternates like Viktor Troicki to fill spots and altered seeding positions. In the women's singles, eight players withdrew, among them Flavia Pennetta, who had announced her retirement following her 2015 US Open title and was replaced by Donna Vekić, as well as Lucie Šafářová (wrist injury). These pre-tournament absences led to multiple draw adjustments, providing opportunities for lower-ranked players and contributing to an unpredictable early tournament landscape. During the tournament, retirements also impacted match outcomes and player progression. In the men's singles, five players retired mid-match, often due to injury flare-ups under the demanding Melbourne conditions. Key examples include No. 11 seed Kevin Anderson, who retired in the first round against Rajeev Ram with a left knee injury at 7–6(4), 6–7(4), 6–3, 3–0; and Diego Schwartzman, who was stretchered off in the first round versus John Millman due to severe full-body cramps at 3–6, 5–7, 7–6(2), 5–0. No. 22 seed Ivo Karlović retired in the first round against Federico Delbonis with an adductor injury at 7–6(4), 6–4, 2–1, while Denis Kudla retired against Tomáš Berdych in the first round at 6–2, 6–1, 0–0 (ankle), and Filip Krajinović retired in the second round against John Isner at 6–4, 0–1 (wrist).| Player | Round | Opponent | Score at Retirement | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Anderson | 1st | Rajeev Ram | 7–6(4), 6–7(4), 6–3, 3–0 | Left knee injury |
| Diego Schwartzman | 1st | John Millman | 3–6, 5–7, 7–6(2), 5–0 | Full-body cramps |
| Ivo Karlović | 1st | Federico Delbonis | 7–6(4), 6–4, 2–1 | Adductor injury |
| Denis Kudla | 1st | Tomáš Berdych | 6–2, 6–1, 0–0 | Ankle injury |
| Filip Krajinović | 2nd | John Isner | 6–4, 0–1 | Wrist injury |
Points and prize money
Ranking points distribution
The 2016 Australian Open awarded ranking points according to the standard Grand Slam distributions established by the ATP, WTA, and ITF, with no modifications from prior years. These points contributed to players' respective tour rankings, reflecting performance across singles, doubles, mixed doubles, wheelchair, and junior events. Points were allocated based on round reached, with higher values for deeper advancement, and applied uniformly to all four Grand Slams.Men's Singles (ATP)
Points were distributed as follows for the main draw:| Round | Points |
|---|---|
| Winner | 2000 |
| Runner-up | 1200 |
| Semi-final | 720 |
| Quarter-final | 360 |
| Round of 16 | 180 |
| Round of 32 | 90 |
| Round of 64 | 45 |
| Round of 128 | 10 |
Women's Singles (WTA)
The distribution mirrored the ATP structure but with adjusted values for later rounds to align with WTA scaling:| Round | Points |
|---|---|
| Winner | 2000 |
| Runner-up | 1300 |
| Semi-final | 780 |
| Quarter-final | 430 |
| Round of 16 | 240 |
| Round of 32 | 130 |
| Round of 64 | 70 |
| Round of 128 | 10 |
Doubles (ATP and WTA)
Both men's and women's doubles events followed similar distributions, scaled to the 64-player draw. ATP points matched the men's singles scale, while WTA points aligned with women's singles adjustments. ATP Men's Doubles:| Round | Points |
|---|---|
| Winners | 2000 |
| Runners-up | 1200 |
| Semi-final | 720 |
| Quarter-final | 360 |
| Round of 16 | 180 |
| Round of 32 | 90 |
| Round of 64 | 10 |
| Round | Points |
|---|---|
| Winners | 2000 |
| Runners-up | 1300 |
| Semi-final | 780 |
| Quarter-final | 430 |
| Round of 16 | 240 |
| Round of 32 | 130 |
Mixed Doubles (ITF, contributing to ATP/WTA doubles rankings)
Mixed doubles points were governed by ITF rules and added to players' individual doubles rankings:| Round | Points |
|---|---|
| Winners | 905 |
| Runners-up | 645 |
| Semi-final | 440 |
| Quarter-final | 290 |
| Round of 16 | 145 |
| Round of 32 | 10 |
Wheelchair Events (ITF UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour)
Wheelchair singles and doubles at Grand Slams were classified as Super Series events, awarding 800 points to winners in both categories. Runners-up received 560 points, semi-finalists 400, quarter-finalists 240, and earlier rounds scaled downward proportionally (e.g., 160 for round of 8). These points supported the separate ITF wheelchair rankings.[49]Junior Events (ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors)
Junior singles and doubles followed Grade A (Grand Slam) points, with winners earning 1000 points in singles and 750 in doubles. Runners-up received 600 (singles) or 450 (doubles), semi-finalists 375 or 275, and quarter-finalists 200 or 150, respectively. An additional 250-point bonus was granted to Grand Slam singles winners to incentivize excellence. These contributed to the ITF junior rankings for players under 18.[50]Prize money allocation
The 2016 Australian Open distributed a record total prize money purse of A$44 million, marking a 10% increase from the A$40 million allocated in 2015.[51][52] This enhancement reflected ongoing efforts to boost player compensation across all categories, with equal payouts for men's and women's events in singles and doubles to promote gender parity.[52] Wheelchair tennis events also received dedicated funding.[53] In singles competitions, the champion in both the men's and women's draws earned A$3.4 million, while the runner-up received A$1.7 million; payouts decreased progressively to A$38,500 for first-round losers.[52][54] Doubles team winners collected A$635,000 to be shared between partners, with mixed doubles champions earning A$157,000 per team.[52] The following table outlines key per-round payouts for singles (per player, identical for men and women) and doubles (per team):| Round | Singles (A$) | Doubles (A$) |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 3,400,000 | 635,000 |
| Runner-up | 1,700,000 | 315,000 |
| Semi-final | 750,000 | 157,500 |
| Quarter-final | 375,000 | 78,500 |
| Round of 16 | 193,000 | 43,000 |
| Round of 32 | 108,000 | 25,000 |
| First round | 38,500 | 16,500 |
Tournament progress
Day-by-day summaries
The 2016 Australian Open began on January 18 with a full slate of first-round matches, where top seeds largely advanced comfortably amid warm conditions reaching 34 degrees Celsius in Melbourne. Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and world No. 1, opened his title defense with a straight-sets victory over Hyeon Chung, while Roger Federer dispatched Nikoloz Basilashvili in 72 minutes, and Serena Williams overcame Camila Giorgi in a competitive encounter. Maria Sharapova also progressed routinely against Nao Hibino, setting a strong tone for the favorites. However, upsets dotted the day, most notably 29th seed Irina-Camila Begu's loss to Johanna Larsson 6–3, 6–2, marking an early shock in the women's draw.[55][56] Day 2 featured continued first-round action, with Andy Murray advancing past Omar Jasika and Garbine Muguruza defeating Shuai Zhang, though temperatures remained elevated, prompting players to use ice packs between games. Australian hopefuls showed promise, as Nick Kyrgios survived a wardrobe malfunction to beat Quentin Halys in five sets, highlighting emerging local talent.[56] On Day 3, January 20, second-round play unfolded under hot conditions that tested endurance, though the extreme heat policy was not triggered for suspensions. Djokovic continued his dominant run with a straight-sets win over Malek Jaziri, reaching his 70th consecutive Grand Slam main-draw victory. Serena Williams cruised past Su-Wei Hsieh, and Roger Federer overcame Alexandr Dolgopolov, while Maria Sharapova dispatched Laura Siegemund. An upset emerged as Australian Daria Gavrilova stunned fifth seed Petra Kvitova, boosting home hopes, but retirements began to surface due to injuries.[57] Days 4 and 5 brought third-round matches, where injuries started impacting the field more noticeably; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired in his second-round match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas due to a shoulder issue, and overall, 12 players withdrew or retired during the tournament, underscoring physical tolls on the hard courts. Kyrgios advanced to the third round with a victory over Paolo Lorenzi, exemplifying Australian resilience. On Day 7, fourth-round action saw Djokovic defeat Gilles Müller in four sets, while Federer overcame Tomas Berdych in a night-session thriller. In the women's draw, Serena Williams beat Daria Kasatkina, and Radwanska progressed past Anna-Lena Friedsam.[58][59] The middle days, including Day 6's night session featuring Federer versus Tomas Berdych, saw top seeds like Djokovic and Williams maintain form, but Australian successes shone through with Bernard Tomic reaching the fourth round before falling to Murray. Day 8 featured quarterfinals, with Murray defeating João Sousa convincingly.[59] Entering finals week on Day 9, quarterfinal previews built anticipation, with Djokovic facing Kei Nishikori and Murray set for Joao Sousa. In the women's draw, quarterfinals on Day 10 saw Serena Williams dispatch Margarita Gasparyan, while Kerber beat Johanna Konta. Semifinals on Day 11 saw Serena Williams dispatch Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets 6–0, 6–4 to reach her seventh Australian Open final, while Angelique Kerber upset Victoria Azarenka 6–3, 7–5 to advance, setting up a blockbuster final matchup. Kerber's run highlighted underdog momentum, previewing her challenge to Williams' dominance. Day 12 featured the women's final, and Days 13-14 culminated in the men's semifinals (Djokovic over Federer, Murray over Raonic) and final.[60][61] Throughout the 14-day event, Australian players achieved notable breakthroughs, with Kyrgios and Gavrilova securing upsets and deep runs that energized local crowds, while injuries like Gael Monfils' third-round retirement and Tsonga's second-round retirement due to injury emphasized the tournament's physical demands and contributed to its narrative of resilience and attrition.[58][14]Key matches and upsets
The 2016 Australian Open featured several notable upsets that reshaped the draws, particularly in the women's singles where lower-ranked players capitalized on vulnerabilities among the top seeds. One of the earliest shocks came in the men's first round when Fernando Verdasco, ranked No. 41, defeated fifth seed Rafael Nadal in a grueling five-set match, 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, marking Nadal's earliest exit at the tournament since 2006.[62] In the women's draw, qualifier Johanna Konta, ranked No. 47, stunned eighth seed Venus Williams in the first round, 6-4, 6-2, propelling the British player on a remarkable run to the semifinals. Konta continued her upset streak by eliminating 21st seed Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6, in a tense decider that highlighted her aggressive baseline play.[63] Another significant surprise was unheralded Naomi Osaka's breakthrough as a qualifier ranked outside the top 100, who advanced to the third round by upsetting 18th seed Elina Svitolina in the second round, 6-1, 6-4, showcasing the 18-year-old's powerful serving and groundstrokes against a seeded opponent.[64] In the men's quarterfinals, 13th seed Milos Raonic pulled off a major upset against fourth seed Stan Wawrinka, prevailing in five sets, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, after saving multiple break points in the decider to reach his first Australian Open semifinal.[65] The tournament saw 12 instances of top-10 seeds falling to players ranked outside the top 20, the highest number in Australian Open history up to that point, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the hard-court conditions in Melbourne.[66] Among the epic encounters, the men's semifinal between Andy Murray and Milos Raonic delivered a five-set thriller lasting over four hours, with Murray rallying from a set down to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, thanks to his superior return game and endurance against Raonic's booming serves.[67] The women's final provided the ultimate upset climax as seventh seed Angelique Kerber dethroned world No. 1 Serena Williams, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, denying Williams a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title and marking Kerber's first major crown in a match defined by her composed defense and opportunistic breaks.[68]Champions and finals
Men's singles
Novak Djokovic won the men's singles title at the 2016 Australian Open, defeating Andy Murray in the final 6–1, 7–5, 7–6(7–3) on 31 January to secure his sixth championship at the event.[69] This victory marked Djokovic's 11th Grand Slam singles title overall, placing him alongside Pete Sampras and Boris Becker at that stage in their careers.[70] As the defending champion and world No. 1, Djokovic dominated much of the tournament, dropping three sets across his six matches en route to the final (two against Gilles Simon in the fourth round and one against Roger Federer in the semifinals).[71] Djokovic's path featured straight-sets triumphs in the first round over Hyeon Chung (6–3, 6–2, 6–4), the second round against qualifier Quentin Halys (6–1, 6–2, 7–6(8–6)), the third round versus Andreas Seppi (6–1, 7–5, 7–6(8–6)), and the quarterfinals against Kei Nishikori (6–3, 6–2, 6–4).[72][73][74] His only extended challenge came in the fourth round, where he outlasted Gilles Simon in five sets (6–3, 6–7(1), 6–4, 4–6, 6–3) despite committing over 100 unforced errors, followed by a four-set semifinal win over Roger Federer (6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3).[75][76] Murray, the world No. 2 and a four-time runner-up at the Australian Open, advanced to his fifth final there after a gritty quarterfinal comeback against David Ferrer, prevailing 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–2, 6–3 following a second-set tiebreak loss.[77] He then outlasted Milos Raonic in five sets in the semifinals (4–6, 7–5, 6–7(4), 6–4, 6–2). In the final, Murray struggled early, winning only five games in the first two sets before forcing a third-set tiebreak, but Djokovic closed it out convincingly. The win elevated Djokovic to a record-tying six Australian Open titles, matching Roy Emerson's Open Era mark.[78] Djokovic earned A$3.4 million in prize money as champion.Women's singles
Angelique Kerber won the women's singles title at the 2016 Australian Open, defeating defending champion Serena Williams in the final to claim her first Grand Slam championship.[5] Seeded seventh, Kerber's victory marked a breakthrough in her career, as she navigated a challenging draw with resilience, saving a match point in her second-round win over Misaki Doi.[68] The tournament featured strong performances from top seeds, but upsets in earlier rounds, such as Camila Giorgi's defeat of second seed Simona Halep in the second round, opened the bracket for Kerber's run.[79] Kerber's path to the final included straight-set victories over Alexandra Dulgheru in the third round, Irina-Camelia Begu in the fourth round, and an emphatic 6–1, 6–2 quarterfinal win over ninth seed Madison Keys, who had reached the US Open final the previous year.[80] In the semifinals, she overcame Johanna Konta 6–3, 6–4, advancing to her first major final.[81] Williams, the world No. 1 and aiming to equal Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, dominated her side of the draw, dropping no sets until the final; she dispatched Dominika Cibulková in the fourth round, Elena Vesnina in the quarterfinals, and fourth seed Agnieszka Radwańska 6–0, 6–4 in the semifinals.[68] In the final on January 30, 2016, at Rod Laver Arena, Kerber upset Williams 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 in a match lasting two hours and eight minutes, breaking Williams' serve three times in the deciding set to secure the win.[80] The victory propelled Kerber to a career-high ranking of world No. 2 the following week and ultimately to No. 1 by year's end after her US Open triumph.[79] It also halted Williams' pursuit of a 22nd major title and extended her streak of consecutive Grand Slam final appearances to nine, while ending any immediate bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2016.[68]Men's doubles
The men's doubles competition at the 2016 Australian Open culminated in a victory for the sixth-seeded pair of Jamie Murray from Great Britain and Bruno Soares from Brazil, who claimed their first Grand Slam title as a team by defeating the unseeded duo of Daniel Nestor from Canada and Radek Štěpánek from the Czech Republic. The final, played on January 30, 2016, at Rod Laver Arena, lasted two hours and 10 minutes and saw Murray and Soares stage a resilient comeback after losing the opening set. Nestor and Štěpánek, the oldest pairing to reach a Grand Slam doubles final in the Open Era at an average age of 40, dominated early with aggressive serving and net play to take the first set 6-2, but Murray and Soares adjusted their strategy, breaking serve twice in the second set to level the match at 6-4 before securing the decisive third set 7-5 with a crucial break at 5-5.[82][83][6] Murray and Soares had entered the tournament as a new partnership, having teamed up just weeks earlier, and their path to the title included steady progression through the draw, highlighted by their ability to save break points and capitalize on opponents' errors in key moments. The win represented Murray's first Australian Open men's doubles title and his breakthrough Grand Slam success in the discipline after previous final losses at Wimbledon and the US Open. For Soares, the men's doubles crown was his first at the event, though he achieved a remarkable double later that same day by partnering Elena Vesnina to the mixed doubles title, marking his second doubles championship at the 2016 Australian Open overall.[84][85][86] The triumph added a poignant family dimension, as Jamie's younger brother, Andy Murray, reached the men's singles final the next day but lost to Novak Djokovic, making the Murrays the first siblings to reach finals in both singles and doubles at the same major tournament in the Open Era. This achievement underscored the event's significance for British tennis, with Jamie becoming the first British man to win the Australian Open men's doubles since 1934.[87][82]Women's doubles
The women's doubles competition at the 2016 Australian Open culminated in a victory for the top-seeded pairing of Martina Hingis from Switzerland and Sania Mirza from India, who claimed their third consecutive Grand Slam doubles title.[7][88] As world No. 1 in doubles, Hingis and Mirza entered the tournament on a 36-match winning streak, having triumphed at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2015, and they extended it to 37 with this success, marking Hingis's 20th career Grand Slam doubles title and Mirza's fourth.[89][90] In the final on January 29, 2016, at Rod Laver Arena, Hingis and Mirza defeated the seventh-seeded Czech team of Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká 7–6(7–1), 6–3 in 73 minutes.[7] The opening set saw eight service breaks—four by each side—before the top seeds dominated the tiebreak, losing just one point on serve to take control. In the second set, Hingis and Mirza converted their sole break point at 2–2 and held firm thereafter, with Mirza's powerful serving and Hingis's net play proving decisive.[89][33] This was Hingis's first Australian Open women's doubles title since partnering Jana Novotná in 1997, while for Mirza it was her inaugural win at the event.[88] Hlaváčková and Hradecká, who had reached the 2013 US Open final together, earned their second Grand Slam final appearance by upsetting higher seeds en route, including a 7–6(7–5), 6–4 semifinal win over the unseeded Chinese duo of Xu Yifan and Zheng Saisai.[91] On the opposite side of the draw, Hingis and Mirza advanced convincingly, defeating 12th seeds CoCo Vandeweghe and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6–4, 6–4 in the quarterfinals before routing 13th seeds Julia Görges and Karolína Plíšková 6–1, 6–0 in the semifinals.[92][93] The defending champions, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Šafářová, were eliminated in the second round by Vandeweghe and Groenefeld.[7]Mixed doubles
Elena Vesnina of Russia and Bruno Soares of Brazil won the mixed doubles title at the 2016 Australian Open, marking their first Grand Slam victory as a pair.[94] The fifth seeds defeated unseeded American Coco Vandeweghe and Romanian Horia Tecău in the final on January 31, 6–4, 4–6, 10–5, after rallying to win the last four points of the match tiebreaker on Rod Laver Arena.[85] This triumph came just over 16 hours after Soares, partnering with Jamie Murray of Great Britain, claimed the men's doubles crown, making it the second doubles title of the tournament for the Brazilian.[95] Vesnina and Soares advanced steadily through the draw, showcasing strong serving and net play. In the quarterfinals, they dispatched Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik and Great Britain's Jamie Murray 6–2, 6–3, converting five of seven break points to secure a decisive win.[96] The semifinals pitted them against top seeds Sania Mirza of India and Croatia's Ivan Dodig, where Vesnina and Soares prevailed 7–5, 7–6(4) in a tense 92-minute battle, saving multiple set points in the second set to edge out the higher-ranked duo.[97] For Vesnina, this was her first mixed doubles major title, complementing her earlier women's doubles success that year alongside Mirza.[98] Vandeweghe and Tecău, entering as wild cards, produced one of the tournament's surprise runs as an unseeded pair. They upset second seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Bob Bryan of the United States in the quarterfinals, 6–3, 6–7(5), 10–6, relying on Tecău's powerful serves and Vandeweghe's aggressive returns to overcome the experienced Americans in a match tiebreaker.[99] In the semifinals, they continued their momentum by defeating eighth seeds Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Treat Huey of the Philippines 6–4, 6–4, breaking serve three times without facing break point to reach their first Grand Slam mixed doubles final as a team.[100] Despite the loss in the final, their performance highlighted Vandeweghe's rising form, as she also reached the women's doubles quarterfinals earlier in the event.[101]Junior events
The junior events at the 2016 Australian Open featured competitions for players under 18 in boys' and girls' singles and doubles, held concurrently with the main draw from 23 to 30 January at Melbourne Park. These tournaments attracted a field of 64 players in each singles draw, following the standard Grand Slam format for junior events, with 32-team draws in doubles.[102] In the boys' singles, Australian Oliver Anderson claimed the title by defeating Uzbekistan's Jurabek Karimov in the final, 6–2, 1–6, 6–1.[103] Anderson, seeded fourth, navigated a competitive draw that included victories over higher seeds, marking a significant achievement for the home nation. His success highlighted Australia's strength in junior tennis that year, though his professional career later faced challenges due to a 2017 match-fixing ban.[104] The girls' singles crown went to Belarusian Vera Lapko, who overcame defending champion Tereza Mihalíková of Slovakia in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4.[105] Lapko, then ranked No. 12 in the ITF junior standings, demonstrated consistent baseline play throughout the tournament, reaching her first junior Grand Slam final after strong showings at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2015. She later transitioned to the WTA Tour, peaking at No. 95 in singles by 2018.[106] In boys' doubles, Australians Alex de Minaur and Blake Ellis partnered to win the title, defeating the Slovak-Czech pair of Lukáš Klein and Patrik Rikl, 6–2, 7–6(4).[107] De Minaur, who had reached the singles semifinals, showcased his rising potential in the event; he went on to become a top-10 ATP player by 2023, winning multiple titles and representing Australia in Davis Cup. Ellis complemented the partnership with solid net play, though his career remained at the Challenger level. The girls' doubles final saw Russia's Anna Kalinskaya and Slovakia's Tereza Mihalíková triumph over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska and Anastasia Zarytska, 6–1, 6–1.[108] As the top seeds, Kalinskaya and Mihalíková dominated with aggressive serving and volleying, securing their second consecutive junior Grand Slam doubles title together after winning the 2015 US Open juniors. Kalinskaya later achieved WTA success, reaching No. 14 in singles by 2024, while Mihalíková peaked at No. 110 and focused on doubles.Wheelchair events
The wheelchair events at the 2016 Australian Open were held from 23 to 31 January at Melbourne Park, featuring competitions in men's, women's, and quad singles and doubles as part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, which UNIQLO sponsored since 2014 to enhance the sport's global visibility and prize money exceeding USD 1.5 million for the year.[109][110] In men's wheelchair singles, Britain's Gordon Reid claimed his first Grand Slam singles title by defeating Belgium's Joachim Gérard in the final, 7–6(9–7), 6–4, marking a breakthrough after previous doubles successes.[111] In the women's wheelchair singles, defending champion Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands retained her title with a 6–3, 7–5 victory over compatriot Aniek van Koot in the final.[112] The quad singles final saw Australian Dylan Alcott defend his home title against American David Wagner, winning 6–2, 6–2 and boosting wheelchair tennis's popularity in Australia through his charismatic presence and media appeal ahead of the Rio Paralympics.[113][114] For doubles, France's Stéphane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer won the men's wheelchair doubles title.[115] In women's wheelchair doubles, Japan's Yui Kamiji and the Netherlands' Marjolein Buis secured the championship.[116] The quad doubles event was captured by American David Wagner and South Africa's Lucas Sithole.[117]| Event | Winner(s) | Final Score (if applicable) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Singles | Gordon Reid (GBR) | 7–6(9–7), 6–4 vs. Joachim Gérard (BEL) | BBC Sport |
| Women's Singles | Jiske Griffioen (NED) | 6–3, 7–5 vs. Aniek van Koot (NED) | Australian Open |
| Quad Singles | Dylan Alcott (AUS) | 6–2, 6–2 vs. David Wagner (USA) | Australian Open |
| Men's Doubles | Stéphane Houdet / Nicolas Peifer (FRA) | N/A | Australian Open |
| Women's Doubles | Yui Kamiji / Marjolein Buis (JPN/NED) | N/A | Australian Open |
| Quad Doubles | David Wagner / Lucas Sithole (USA/RSA) | N/A | Australian Open |