1969 Australian Open
Encyclopedia
The 1969 Australian Open was the first Australian Open
and the final Grand Slam
to allow both amateur and professionals. The tournament was played in Brisbane on Milton's grass courts between a men's field of 48 and a women's field of 32. The semifinal (Rod Laver's victory over Tony Roche) was played in 105-degree heat. That contest dragged on for more than four hours, 7–5 22–20 9–11 1–6 6–3, both players putting wet cabbage leaves in their hats to help them keep cool. The Men's singles title was eventually won by Rod Laver
defeating Andres Gimeno
. Margaret Court took her 8th singles title and the $1,500 prize from Billie Jean King
and swept the tournament with Women's doubles and Mixed. The 1969 Australian Open was the only year in the Open era that a mixed doubles championship was staged, until resumption in 1986. Marty Riessen and Margaret Court shared the title with Fred Stolle and Anne Haydon Jones because the final was never played. It was also the last year that a junior mixed doubles championship was played, Aussies Geoff Masters and Barbara Hawcroft taking the title. Laver's win was the first step towards his second Grand Slam.
Rod Laver
def.
Andres Gimeno
, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
Margaret Court def. 
Billie Jean King
, 6–4, 6–1
Rod Laver
/ Roy Emerson
def. Ken Rosewall
/ Fred Stolle
, 6–4, 6–4
Margaret Court / Judy Tegart Dalton def. Rosemary Casals
/ Billie Jean King
, 6–4, 6–4
Margaret Court / Marty Riessen
and
Ann Haydon Jones / Fred Stolle
(Shared title – final not played)
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
and the final Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
to allow both amateur and professionals. The tournament was played in Brisbane on Milton's grass courts between a men's field of 48 and a women's field of 32. The semifinal (Rod Laver's victory over Tony Roche) was played in 105-degree heat. That contest dragged on for more than four hours, 7–5 22–20 9–11 1–6 6–3, both players putting wet cabbage leaves in their hats to help them keep cool. The Men's singles title was eventually won by Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
defeating Andres Gimeno
Andrés Gimeno
Andrés Gimeno Tolaguera is a retired Spanish tennis player. He major achievement came in 1972, when he won the French Open....
. Margaret Court took her 8th singles title and the $1,500 prize from Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
and swept the tournament with Women's doubles and Mixed. The 1969 Australian Open was the only year in the Open era that a mixed doubles championship was staged, until resumption in 1986. Marty Riessen and Margaret Court shared the title with Fred Stolle and Anne Haydon Jones because the final was never played. It was also the last year that a junior mixed doubles championship was played, Aussies Geoff Masters and Barbara Hawcroft taking the title. Laver's win was the first step towards his second Grand Slam.
Men's singles
Rod LaverRod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
def.
Andres GimenoAndrés Gimeno
Andrés Gimeno Tolaguera is a retired Spanish tennis player. He major achievement came in 1972, when he won the French Open....
, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
Women's singles
Margaret Court def. Billie Jean KingBillie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
, 6–4, 6–1
Men's doubles
Rod LaverRod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
/
Roy EmersonRoy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male...
def.
Ken RosewallKen Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
/
Fred StolleFred Stolle
Frederick "Fred" Sydney Stolle is an Australian tennis player. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle....
, 6–4, 6–4
Women's doubles
Margaret Court / Judy Tegart Dalton def. Rosemary CasalsRosemary Casals
Rosemary "Rosie" Casals is a former American professional tennis player.Rosemary Casals earned her reputation as a rebel in the staid tennis world when she began competing in the early 1960s. During a tennis career that spanned more than two decades, she won more than 90 tournaments and worked for...
/
Billie Jean KingBillie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
, 6–4, 6–4
Mixed doubles
Margaret Court / Marty RiessenMarty Riessen
Marty Riessen played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP Rankings...
and
Ann Haydon Jones / Fred StolleFred Stolle
Frederick "Fred" Sydney Stolle is an Australian tennis player. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle....
(Shared title – final not played)
See also
- Australian OpenAustralian OpenThe Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
- 1969 French Open1969 French OpenList of the 1969 French Open champions:-Men's singles: Rod Laver def. Ken Rosewall, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4-Women's singles: Margaret Court def. Ann Haydon Jones, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3-Men's doubles:...
- 1969 Wimbledon Championships1969 Wimbledon ChampionshipsThe 1969 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament that was played on grass courts. It was the 2nd edition of the event in the Open Era and the 83rd since its formation...
- 1969 U.S. Open