Petits As
Encyclopedia
Les Petits As is a premier junior tennis
tournament for players aged 12–14. It is held in Tarbes
, France. It is often considered to be the European equivalent of the Orange Bowl
in Florida
, United States due to the high number of international players that it attracts.
The event has seen a number of its champions go on to become slam winners, including Rafael Nadal
, Michael Chang
, Martina Hingis
, and Kim Clijsters
. Due to the relatively restrictive age range, few players have won the title more than once, although Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky
have both done so. Most recently, upcoming Spanish player Carlos Boluda became the first boy to do so.
The tournament is played on indoor Green Set (hard) courts. Roughly 7,000 players enter the pre-qualifying tournaments held across France, with that number being narrowed down to 350 for the final qualifying stage, and 64 for the final tournament. The event is regulated by the International Tennis Federation
(ITF) and has businesses such as Head
, Eurosport
, Coca-Cola
, and Peugeot
amongst its portfolio of partners.
, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic
met in the final. They had first played each other in Les Petits As in 2000 as 13-year-olds (born a week apart in May, 1987). Murray remembered winning the Petits As match "6-love, 6-1 maybe." Djokovic (3 seed in Australia 2011), who had already eliminated Roger Federer
(2 seed) would "be just a bit tougher than that on Sunday,” averred Murray. Murray (5 seed) had just beaten David Ferrer
(7 seed) in the semis at Melbourne Park
. Ferrer earlier in the 2011 tournament had beaten Rafael Nadal, who was the overall winner of the 2000 Petits As and the top seed in the 2011 Open. In the event, in Australia 2011, Djokovic beat Murray in a hard-fought but convincing straight sets win, following the match with "a warm embrace at the net as if to say to his longtime friend and rival, until next time," as one commentator put it.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament for players aged 12–14. It is held in Tarbes
Tarbes
Tarbes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants....
, France. It is often considered to be the European equivalent of the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl (tennis)
The Orange Bowl is an annual college football bowl game. Orange Bowl may also refer to:* Miami Orange Bowl, a demolished stadium formerly in Miami, Florida* One of two tennis tournaments, one for juniors and the other for youth...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States due to the high number of international players that it attracts.
The event has seen a number of its champions go on to become slam winners, including Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
, Michael Chang
Michael Chang
Michael Te-Pei Chang is a former American professional tennis player. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17....
, Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis is a retired Swiss professional tennis player who spent a total of 209 weeks as World No. 1. She won five Grand Slam singles titles...
, and Kim Clijsters
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles....
. Due to the relatively restrictive age range, few players have won the title more than once, although Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky
Timea Bacsinszky
Timea Bacsinszky is a professional female tennis player residing in Belmont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. She joined the WTA Tour in 2004 and was ranked World No. 37 on 7 June 2010....
have both done so. Most recently, upcoming Spanish player Carlos Boluda became the first boy to do so.
The tournament is played on indoor Green Set (hard) courts. Roughly 7,000 players enter the pre-qualifying tournaments held across France, with that number being narrowed down to 350 for the final qualifying stage, and 64 for the final tournament. The event is regulated by the International Tennis Federation
International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by 12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913...
(ITF) and has businesses such as Head
Head (company)
Head N.V. is a sports equipment and clothing company, known mainly for their alpine skis and tennis racquets. Founded as a ski company in Baltimore, Maryland, the company is currently headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Kennelbach, Austria...
, Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, and Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
amongst its portfolio of partners.
Boys' singles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 |  Jean-Baptiste Bolle |
 Jean-Manuel Naves |
|
| 1984 | Frédéric Fontang |
 Marek Miskolci |
|
| 1985 |  Richard KrajicekRichard Krajicek Richard Peter Stanislav Krajicek is a Dutch former professional tennis player. In 1996 he won the men's singles title at Wimbledon, the only Dutch player to have done so. In the quarterfinals of that tournament he defeated Pete Sampras. This was Sampras' only singles defeat at Wimbledon between... |
Philippe Leblanc |
|
| 1986 |  Michael ChangMichael Chang Michael Te-Pei Chang is a former American professional tennis player. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17.... |
 Johan Alvenn |
|
| 1987 |  Reinhard Wawra |
David Klein |
|
| 1988 | Brian Dunn |
Julian Knowle Julian Knowle ----Julian Knowle is an Austrian male professional tennis player. Being a born left-hander Knowle is one of now only few on the ATP Tour who plays his forehand, backhand and even volleys double-handed. He is Austria's most successful doubles player in history by reaching no... |
|
| 1989 | Tommy Shimada |
Gonzalo Corrales |
|
| 1990 | Maxime Boye |
Magnus Norman Magnus Norman Magnus Norman is a retired Swedish professional tennis player who is best known for being the runner-up at the French Open in 2000 and for briefly being ranked World Number 2. He won 12 singles titles, including a Tennis Masters Series tournament in Rome, Italy.Norman reached his career high... |
|
| 1991 |  Răzvan SabăuRazvan Sabau Răzvan Sabău is a Romanian tennis player.Born in Bucharest, Romania, Sabău trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in his junior years and in 1993 he won the Wimbledon junior singles title, finishing the year as the No. 2 junior in the world. He ranked No... |
Juan Antonio Saiz |
|
| 1992 | Olivier Mutis Olivier Mutis Olivier Mutis is a French professional tennis player who retired in 2006. He did not win any ATP Tour titles but he won a total of 7 ATP Challenger Series.... |
Björn Rehnquist Björn Rehnquist Björn Rehnquist is a professional Swedish tennis player. The Swede competed in the 2006 Australian Open, losing to 20th seed Radek Štěpánek 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, and at the 2009 Australian Open, but lost in the first round 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 to eventual semi-finalist Andy Roddick.-External links:... |
|
| 1993 |  Miha Gregorc |
Dymitry Caradima |
|
| 1994 | Juan-Carlos Ferrero |
 Fernando GonzálezFernando González ----Fernando Francisco González Ciuffardi is a professional tennis player from Chile. He is known for having one of the hardest forehands on the circuit. In Spanish he is called El Bombardero de La Reina and Mano de Piedra... |
|
| 1995 |  Olivier RochusOlivier Rochus Olivier Rochus is a Belgian tennis player. He was born in Namur, Belgium, and currently resides in Auvelais, Belgium.-Career:... |
Gasper Martinjak |
|
| 1996 | Paul-Henri Mathieu Paul-Henri Mathieu Paul-Henri Mathieu is a French tennis player.-Tennis career:Mathieu was born in Strasbourg, France. He first began playing tennis at age 3, with his older brother Pierre-Yves. Between 1997 and 2000 he trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida... |
 Todor Enev |
|
| 1997 | Julien Maigret |
Carlos Cuadrado Carlos Cuadrado Carlos Cuadrado is a former Spanish professional tennis player. He won the French Open juniors singles in 2001.-Career:... |
|
| 1998 |  Matthew Smith |
 Mario AnčićMario Ancic Mario Ančić is a retired Croatian professional tennis player. He won three singles titles and five doubles titles. His highest international ranking came during the 2006 ATP Tour, when he reached no. 7 in singles... |
|
| 1999 | Richard Gasquet Richard Gasquet Richard Gasquet is a French professional tennis player. He won the mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the 2004 French Open, partnering Tatiana Golovin. His highest ranking in singles is #7. His best achievements in tennis are reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2007 and later that year... |
Brian Baker Brian Baker (tennis) Brian Baker is a professionally ranked tennis player from Nashville, Tennessee.Baker's biggest win occurred on On August 29, 2005, when he scored an upset victory over ninth seeded Gastón Gaudio in the 2005 US Open, in Baker's only appearance in the grand slam event main draw.Baker originally... |
|
| 2000 | Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals... |
Julien Gely |
|
| 2001 |  Alexandre Krasnoroutski |
Andy Murray |
|
| 2002 | Dylan Arnould |
 Robin Roshardt |
|
| 2003 | Donald Young |
Leo Rosenberg |
|
| 2004 |  Andrew Thomas |
 Vladimir IgnaticVladimir Ignatic Uladzimir Ignatik is a Belarusian tennis player, who is currently ranked 201st in the world , and is the top ranked Belarussian tennis player in singles.- Junior career :... |
|
| 2005 | Chase Buchanan Chase Buchanan Chase Buchanan Buchanan grew up and attended grade school and high school in New Albany, Ohio and now attends The Ohio State University and is a member of the tennis team) is an American men's tennis player.-Career:... |
Lazare Kukhalashvili |
6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 2006 | Carlos Boluda |
 Sebastian Lavie |
7–6, 6–3 |
| 2007 | Carlos Boluda |
Christian Harrison |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 2008 |  Edward Nguyen |
Liam Broady Liam Broady Liam Broady is a junior tennis player who in 2010 won the Boys' Doubles at Wimbledon partnered with fellow Briton Tom Farquharson.-Personal life:... |
6–4, 7–5 |
| 2009 |  Nikola MilojevicNikola Milojevic Nikola Milojević is a Serbian football goalkeeper playing with FK Borac Čačak in the Serbian SuperLiga since summer 2010.-Career:... |
Borna Coric |
6–2, 6-3 |
| 2010 | Quentin Halys |
Noah Rubin Noah Rubin Noah Rubin is an American-born artist/producer based in New York City.-History:Alongside Chris Coady, Rubin recorded Das Oath's 2006 Mini-LP for Dim Mak Records... |
6–1, 6-2 |
Girls' singles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Sybille Niox-Château |
Cécile Bourdaix |
|
| 1984 | Emmanuelle Derly |
Alexia Dechaume |
|
| 1985 | Sandrine Jacquet |
Hanika Narbe |
|
| 1986 | Laxima Poruri |
Gruben |
|
| 1987 | Kimberly Kessaris |
Ursula Priller |
|
| 1988 |  Anke HuberAnke Huber Anke Huber is a German retired professional tennis player. She was the runner-up in women's singles at the 1996 Australian Open. Her career-high singles ranking was fourth, also in 1996.-Early life:... |
Katherine Denn Samuel |
|
| 1989 | Nicole London |
Zedna Malková |
|
| 1990 | Heike Rusch |
Lindsay Davenport Lindsay Davenport Lindsay Ann Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-best player of the preceding forty years... |
|
| 1991 | Martina Hingis Martina Hingis Martina Hingis is a retired Swiss professional tennis player who spent a total of 209 weeks as World No. 1. She won five Grand Slam singles titles... |
 Dally RandriantefyDally Randriantefy Dally Randriantefy is a former professional female tennis player.Her highest rank on the WTA tour is No.44 and her best results have been a semi-final appearance at the WTA Strasbourg tournament in 2005 and winning seven ITF singles titles... |
|
| 1992 | Martina Hingis Martina Hingis Martina Hingis is a retired Swiss professional tennis player who spent a total of 209 weeks as World No. 1. She won five Grand Slam singles titles... |
 Rita Kuti-KisRita Kuti-Kis Rita Kuti-Kis is a former professional tennis player from Hungary. In 1992 she was beaten by future international no 1 Martina Hingis in the Petits As competition, a juniors tournament at Tarbes, France which has been renowned for the discovery of young tennis talent... |
|
| 1993 | Stephanie Hallsell |
Rika Vidats |
|
| 1994 | Anna Kournikova Anna Kournikova Anna Sergeyevna Kournikova is a Russian retired professional tennis player. Her beauty and celebrity status made her one of the best known tennis stars worldwide, despite the fact that she never won a WTA singles title. At the peak of her fame, fans looking for images of Kournikova made her name... |
 Stephanie Kovacik |
|
| 1995 | Mirjana Lučić Mirjana Lucic Mirjana Lučić is a Croatian professional tennis player. She enjoyed a promising career on the WTA Tour in the late 1990s, during which she set several "youngest-ever" records, won one Grand Slam women's doubles title at the Australian Open in 1998 when she was only 15 years old, partnering Martina... |
Justine Henin |
|
| 1996 | Jelena Pandžić Jelena Pandžic Jelena Pandžić is a professional tennis player from Croatia.-Tennis career:She began playing tennis aged 7 and as a junior she was considered a hot prospect for the future, being ranked as the world number one in the under 14 age bracket... |
Melissa Middleton |
|
| 1997 | Kim Clijsters Kim Clijsters Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles.... |
Elena Bovina Elena Bovina Elena Olegovna Bovina is a Russian professional female tennis player. On April 4, 2005 Bovina reached her career-high singles ranking: World No. 14.... |
|
| 1998 | Lina Krasnoroutskaya Lina Krasnoroutskaya Lina Vladimirovna Krasnoroutskaya is a former Junior World Number 1 tennis player. In addition to gaining the coveted top spot, Lina won the US Open Junior title... |
Caroline Raba |
|
| 1999 | Bethanie Mattek Bethanie Mattek Bethanie Lynn Mattek-Sands is an American professional tennis player who competes on the WTA Tour. She lives in Miami, Florida, but trains in Phoenix, Arizona... |
Mateas Mezac |
|
| 2000 | Dinara Safina Dinara Safina Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1.... |
Lina Stančiūtė Lina Stanciute Lina Stančiūtė is a Lithuanian professional tennis player, who achieved her highest ranking on September 28, 2009 .-External links:... |
|
| 2001 | Vojislava Łukić |  Jarmila GajdošováJarmila Gajdošová Jarmila Gajdošová , known as Jarmila Groth from 2009 to 2011, is an Australian tennis player... |
|
| 2002 | Timea Bacsinszky Timea Bacsinszky Timea Bacsinszky is a professional female tennis player residing in Belmont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. She joined the WTA Tour in 2004 and was ranked World No. 37 on 7 June 2010.... |
Alisa Kleybanova Alisa Kleybanova Alisa Mikhaelovna Kleybanova is a Russian professional tennis player. Her highest WTA world ranking to date is No. 20, achieved on February 21, 2010... |
|
| 2003 | Timea Bacsinszky Timea Bacsinszky Timea Bacsinszky is a professional female tennis player residing in Belmont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. She joined the WTA Tour in 2004 and was ranked World No. 37 on 7 June 2010.... |
Ioana Raluca Olaru Ioana Raluca Olaru Ioana Raluca Olaru is a Romanian tennis player. As of 2 August 2010, she is ranked World No. 158 in singles and No. 104 in doubles. The winner of nine singles and six doubles ITF Circuit titles, Olaru reached one WTA Tour singles final, at the 2009 Gastein Ladies, losing to Andrea Petkovic 6–2, 6–3... |
|
| 2004 | Yelena Kulikova |
Tamira Paszek Tamira Paszek Tamira Shelah Paszek is a professional tennis player from Austria. As of July 4, 2011, she is the no.1 ranked tennis player from Austria in the WTA ranking, at No. 41.... |
|
| 2005 | Ksenia Pervak Ksenia Pervak Ksenia Yuryevna Pervak is a professional left-handed Russian tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 37th, which she reached on 19 September 2011... |
Gracia Radovanovic |
|
| 2006 | Gabriela Dabrowski Gabriela Dabrowski Gabriela Dabrowski is a Canadian professional tennis player. She reached her highest WTA singles ranking of 359 on November 7, 2011. She is currently playing on the Junior Circuit and on the ITF Circuit.-Early life:... |
Anna Arina Marenko Anna Arina Marenko Anna Arina Marenko is a junior Russian tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 462, which she reached on February 21, 2011.- ITF doubles wins :* 2010 – $25k Moscow, Russia... |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 2007 | Anna Orlik Anna Orlik Anna Orlik is a Belarussian tennis player. On October 26, 2009, she achieved her career-high WTA Event singles ranking of No. 585. On March 1, 2010, she claimed her highest doubles rank of No. 387.-Career Summary:... |
Nicole Gibbs Nicole Gibbs Nicole Gibbs is an American tennis player and a 2010 graduate of Crossroads college preparatory school. She plays professional WTA and ITF events while maintaining her amateur status. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 356, which she reached on September 13, 2010. Her career high WTA ranking in... |
6–4, 6–1 |
| 2008 | Daria Gavrilova Daria Gavrilova Daria Gavrilova is a junior Russian tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 347, which she reached on May 02, 2011.Daria highest junior ITF ranking is at No. 1 reached on August 23, 2010.-2010:... |
Laura Robson Laura Robson Laura Robson is a British tennis player. She debuted on the International Tennis Federation junior tour in 2007, and a year later won the Wimbledon Junior Girls' Championship at the age of 14. As a junior, she also twice reached the final of the Australian Open, in 2009 and 2010. She won her... |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 2009 | Yulia Putintseva Yulia Putintseva Yulia Putintseva is a junior Russian tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 230, which she reached on October 24, 2011.- Personal life :... |
Irina Khromacheva Irina Khromacheva Irina Khromacheva is a junior Russian tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 347th, which she reached on November 14, 2011. Her current singles ranking as of November 14, 2011, is 347th.- Personal life :... |
6–4, 6–2 |
| 2010 |  Tsuji Kanami |
Indy De Vroome |
4-6, 6-3, 6–4 |
Exhibitions
The tournament often features retired and/or active players making appearances in exhibition matches in the evening preceding the final day of play. It is common for upcoming and veteran French players to be present. In recent tournaments, players present have included:- 2004: Yannick NoahYannick NoahYannick Noah is a former professional tennis player from France. He is best remembered for being the last French man to win the French Open in 1983, and as a highly-successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams...
and Henri LeconteHenri LeconteHenri Leconte is a former French professional tennis player. He reached the men's singles final at the French Open in 1988, won the French Open men's doubles title in 1984, and helped France win the Davis Cup in 1991.-Biography and career:...
. - 2005: Juan Carlos FerreroJuan Carlos FerreroJuan Carlos Ferrero Donat is a professional tennis player, and a former world no. 1 player, from Spain. He captured the men's singles title at the 2003 French Open, and in September of that year, he became the 21st player to hold the world no. 1 ranking. He was also the runner-up at the 2002...
(a former champion) and David NalbandianDavid NalbandianDavid Pablo Nalbandian is an Argentine professional tennis player and former world no. 3. He was runner-up at the 2002 Wimbledon Championships and the winner of the Tennis Masters Cup in 2005.-Biography:...
, who replaced compatriot and French Open champion Gastón GaudioGastón GaudioGastón Norberto Gaudio is a former tennis player from Argentina. His career-high ATP ranking was World No. 5 in 2005...
at the last minute. - 2006: Rafael NadalRafael NadalRafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. , he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals...
and Fabrice SantoroFabrice SantoroFabrice Vetea Santoro is a retired French professional male tennis player from Tahiti. Though not counted among the top ranked players, he had an unusually long professional career – with many of his accomplishments coming toward the end of his career – and he is popular among spectators and other...
. - 2007: Richard GasquetRichard GasquetRichard Gasquet is a French professional tennis player. He won the mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the 2004 French Open, partnering Tatiana Golovin. His highest ranking in singles is #7. His best achievements in tennis are reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2007 and later that year...
and Gaël MonfilsGaël MonfilsGaël Sébastien Monfils is a French professional tennis player. he was the highest-ranked French tennis player, ranked no. 7 in the world ATP rankings. He was the runner-up at the Paris Masters in 2009 and 2010 and a semifinalist at the 2008 French Open.-2002:In 2002, Monfils finished 24th at the...
. - 2008: Fabrice SantoroFabrice SantoroFabrice Vetea Santoro is a retired French professional male tennis player from Tahiti. Though not counted among the top ranked players, he had an unusually long professional career – with many of his accomplishments coming toward the end of his career – and he is popular among spectators and other...
and Marc GicquelMarc GicquelMarc Gicquel is a professional male tennis player from France. He turned pro in 1999.-Tennis career:...
, after Paul-Henri MathieuPaul-Henri MathieuPaul-Henri Mathieu is a French tennis player.-Tennis career:Mathieu was born in Strasbourg, France. He first began playing tennis at age 3, with his older brother Pierre-Yves. Between 1997 and 2000 he trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida...
and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew. Mathieu, who had injured himself at the 2008 Australian Open2008 Australian OpenThe 2008 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 96th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 14 through 27 January 2008.After twenty years of playing on...
, signed autographs instead.
Notable later meeting of Les Petites As competitors
In the 2011 Australian Open2011 Australian Open
The 2011 Australian Open was a tennis tournament featuring six different competitions, and part of the 2011 ATP World Tour, the 2011 WTA Tour, ITF Junior Tour and the NEC Tour, as tournaments for professional, junior and wheelchair players were held...
, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who has been ranked world no. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals since 4 July 2011. He has won four Grand Slam singles titles: the 2008 and 2011 Australian Open, the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2011 US Open...
met in the final. They had first played each other in Les Petits As in 2000 as 13-year-olds (born a week apart in May, 1987). Murray remembered winning the Petits As match "6-love, 6-1 maybe." Djokovic (3 seed in Australia 2011), who had already eliminated Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
(2 seed) would "be just a bit tougher than that on Sunday,” averred Murray. Murray (5 seed) had just beaten David Ferrer
David Ferrer
David Ferrer Ern is a Spanish professional tennis player who lives in Valencia, Spain who is currently no. 5 in the ATP Rankings and the second-highest ranked Spaniard behind world no. 2 Rafael Nadal. He turned professional in 2000...
(7 seed) in the semis at Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open in tennis, which is played annually in January...
. Ferrer earlier in the 2011 tournament had beaten Rafael Nadal, who was the overall winner of the 2000 Petits As and the top seed in the 2011 Open. In the event, in Australia 2011, Djokovic beat Murray in a hard-fought but convincing straight sets win, following the match with "a warm embrace at the net as if to say to his longtime friend and rival, until next time," as one commentator put it.