Madison Keys placed earlier disappointments firmly in the past as she made a brilliant Grand Slam breakthrough at AO 2025.
A record 1.2 milion fans took in the action and ambience at Australian Open 2025, in the event's 120th edition.
24 MIXED DOUBLES DELIGHT
In their debut as a duo, Olivia Gadecki and John Peers won a historic all-Aussie mixed championship.
26 SMASHING NEW HIGHS
History was made both on the court and off it as a record 1.2 million fans watched epic feats unfold at AO 2025.
29 SAVILLE’S SWANSONG SWANSONG
Former Australian Open junior champion Luke Saville farewelled the game in fi tting style at Rod Laver Arena.
18
SINNER TAKES IT ALL
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World No.1 Jannik Sinner completed stunning back-to-back wins at Melbourne Park.
While the utmost care is taken in compiling the information contained in this publication, Tennis Australia is not responsible for any loss or injury occurring as a result of any omissions in either the editorial or advertising appearing herein.
30 END OF THE DJOKOVIC JUGGERNAUT?
Has all-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic played his last match in Melbourne?
34 IN SERVICE OF FASHION
The Australian Open doubles as the other Melbourne Fashion Week.
36 AUS OPEN AWARDS
There was no shortage of on- and off-court drama to savour at AO 2025.
49 HOLGER RUNE RELOADED
The young Dane, who gave Jannik Sinner his closest scrap, is eyeing a return to top form.
56 50 YEARS OF AUSSIE HIGHLIGHTS
As Australian Tennis Magazine enters its 50th year, we select 50 Aussie tennis achievements celebrated in the pages of the magazine.
68 UNITED STARS OF AMERICA
The top-seeded Americans, led by Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, were unstoppable at the United Cup.
64 SUMMER CHILLING
Escaping competitive heat on the court, players on their Aussie sojourn enjoyed plenty of chill options off the court. 7
80 FAREWELL FRASE
38
A tribute to Neale Fraser, a giant of Australian tennis.
SUMMER LOVE
Several Aussies felt the love from local fans as they hit career-highs on home soil.
VOLUME 50, ISSUE #1
NATIONAL TREASURES:
That’s a wrap, of our 50th Australian Open… It’s been a privilege and pleasure to serve as acting editor of Australian Tennis Magazine for this rst issue of our 50th year, covering the 120th anniversary of a blockbuster Australian Open.
Our national championship and our national magazine have long been entwined. The inaugural January 1976 issue, with John Newcombe on the cover, doubled as the Australian Open program.
What a sea-change in fortunes the last 50 years have brought both our home Grand Slam and our tennis magazine.
The Australian Open, in those far-off Kooyong days, was vulnerable to losing its Grand Slam status. Today, the 2025 edition a triumph, the Australian Open is arguably the grandest Slam of all, certainly by the metrics of fan numbers, constant
innovation, player endorsement and engagement with its host city. Melbourne lives through the AO in a way that doesn’t happen in the Grand Slam megacities of Paris, London and New York.
The magazine too has defied the naysayers, who believed a specialist tennis publication wouldn’t survive in the sunset days of Australia’s golden era, without a Newk or Evonne Goolagong winning major titles. ATM has outlived every tennis and general sport periodical in this country. Last we looked, only a
beekeeping magazine has been around longer!
I was a part-time editorial assistant for the 10th birthday issue in 1986 and editor for our 20th anniversary in 1995. Amazing to recall that our longest-serving editor, Vivienne Christie, and designer Andrea Williamson worked with me on that magazine! Here we are 30 years on, tennis tragics still in our happy place.
the magazine’s 50th year.
This milestone is a tribute to Kim’s parents, Alan and Joan Trengove, the founders of the magazine, who started the venture on their dining room table and established ATM as an international authority on the game, with a loyal and expanding readership.
Alan and Joan (byline Eloise Moss) are no longer with us. We celebrate knowing that they would be chuffed the magazine has prospered on their foundation.
Glenn Nicholson and Michelle Michie, publishers for 22 years, produced the first all-colour issues and spanned the tenure of all six editors in the magazine’s existence. Since 2010, ATM has been housed at Melbourne Park and published by Tennis Australia.
Retrospectives throughout our 50th year kick o this issue with an archive dive into the 50 highlights in Australian tennis that the magazine happily documented.
But there’s so much to celebrate in the present-day.
Viv and Andrea, a telepathic doubles team, deserve the highest credit for the magazine’s glowing health. At Melbourne Park, Viv and I gathered with former editors Kim Trengove and Paul Macpherson to toast
AO 2025, attracting a newrecord 1.2 million fans, ranks as the best-attended tennis event ever. The AO continues to grow, with junior wheelchair singles and doubles events added this year. The singles qualifying is a still-underrated but growing attraction; a tennis Hunger Games, brimming with hard-luck and human-interest stories.
We’ve been spoiled for epic nals but I loved the dazzling defence of Jannik Sinner, a young champion still on the rise. Madison Keys was a surprising, deserving and popular champion, with plenty of insights on the pressures that come with anointing future major winners.
Enjoy this record of a smashing Aussie summer season and thank you for following the game with us.
Suzi Petkovski Acting Editor
BEWDY NEWK: the inaugural January 1976 issue; EDIT SUITE: (from left) Kim Trengove, Vivienne Christie, Paul Macpherson and Suzi Petkovski meet up at Melbourne Park.
John Newcombe and Evonne Goolagong Cawley were defending champions at the debut of Australian Tennis Magazine.
A MAJOR CELEBRATION
Melbourne Park simply sparkled as the 120th Australian Open delivered new heights in action and ambience, along with champions who'll take a proud place in tournament history.
Every milestone birthday demands a special celebration – and how the 120th edition of the Australian Open delivered.
From its beginnings as the 1905 Australasian Championships contested on grass at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground, with men’s singles and doubles only, the season-opening Slam has grown into a global extravaganza.
More than 800 players, representing 70 nations, contested 27 draws at AO 2025, including qualifying, singles, doubles, juniors, legends and wheelchair events. And over three thrilling weeks, some 1.2 million fans came to join in the party at Melbourne Park.
They witnessed more than simply tennis, with live entertainment, family fun and the highest-quality dining now woven into the magic of the
Australian Open. Celebrities including Bear Grylls, Dionne Warwick, Finneas, Jackie Chan, Liam Hemsworth and Tyra Banks were among those who attended in 2025.
As millions more tuned into local and global broadcasts, there were also stunning innovations on show. Coach Pods, TOPCOURT, live animated feeds and the One Point Slam were among this year’s state-ofthe-art rsts.
And the Australian Open once again reminded that it is, at its heart, the Happy Slam.
While Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner were ultimately crowned champions, there was an overwhelming sense that many had triumphed as the tournament invited participation, celebrated diversity and welcomed all who had been part of a historymaking tournament.
MADISON MEETS THE MOMENT
LHaunted by past failures, Madison Keys unlocked her brilliant best at Melbourne Park to at last deliver on a long-awaited Slam. By DAN IMHOFF
etting go of her Grand Slam dream seemed inconceivable to Madison Keys.
for her own self-worth. It had
It was something, she admitted, that had to be done for her own self-worth. It had to be done in order to finally, if unexpectedly, realise that dream on the final Saturday night at Melbourne Park.
Keys admitted to doubts that she would ever have another shot at achieving the ambition she’d held since childhood.
More than seven years had passed since her lone prior showing in a major final at Flushing Meadows, and the nearest she had come since was a stumble in the 2023 US Open semifinals with the finish line in sight against Aryna Sabalenka.
Deep into a third set of the Australian Open final, in a rematch with the two-time reigning champion and world No.1, this was uncharted territory.
the American kept any intrusive thoughts at bay – as much as a fierce opponent bidding to become the first woman since Martina Hingis 26 years ago to secure a Melbourne Park three-peat – when a match point slipped her grasp.
Keys came from
In her finest two hours and two minutes at Rod Laver Arena, the 29-year-old never blinked again. She stepped up and
In her 46th major campaign, finally delivered.
“From a pretty young age, I felt like if I never won a Grand Slam, then I wouldn't have lived up to what people thought I should have been. That was a pretty heavy burden to carry around,”
Keys said following the 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory.
“I finally got to the point where I was proud of myself and proud of my career, with or without a Grand Slam.
I was okay if it didn't happen. I didn't need it to feel like I had a good career or that I deserved to be talked about
as a great tennis player.
“I feel like finally letting go of that kind of internal talk just gave me the ability to actually go out and play some really good tennis to actually win a Grand Slam.”
Grand Slam.”
salvage a game in the second set of a 61-minute demolition.
That US Open decider in 2017 ended in a nerve-racked, errorstrewn defeat to good friend Sloane Stephens, Keys unable to salvage a game in the second set of a 61-minute demolition.
Seven years on, Stephens was among the first to offer her congratulations from afar.
congratulations
“It was never if, just when. You deserve this and beyond,” Stephens posted.
Stephens posted. capitulation, having haunted Keys.
The more recent capitulation, having served for victory only for Sabalenka to reel her in at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the 2023 US Open, had haunted Keys.
Keys admitted to doubts that she would ever have another
sight against Aryna Sabalenka.
UNLEASHED:
match point down against Iga Swiatek in the semis.
A decade since her debut in a major semi, Keys lifted the silverware in her 46th Grand Slam.
An old pearl of wisdom suggests dominance doesn’t necessarily derive from size or strength, but from a state of mind.
Since assuming his place as world No.1 in June last year, Jannik Sinner has been a giant of mental strength, comfortably carrying the added burden of expectation that comes with his mantle.
The 23-year-old has been the most e ective while ranked No.1 since ATP rankings began and is fast building a case for greatness a er defending his Australian Open crown, crushing Alexander Zverev’s hopes of a maiden major title.
The first Italian player to win three major singles titles and the youngest man to go back-toback at Melbourne Park since Jim Courier in 1993, Sinner clinically dismantled the second seed 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3.
It took his haul to six titles from nine events since he became No.1 and his 47th win from his first 50 matches as the world’s best tied the
SINNER TAKES IT ALL
benchmark Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors set.
This major trophy came in stark contrast to his first a year ago when the underdog was forced to close a two-set deficit on Daniil Medvedev for the silverware.
it once,” Sinner said.
Jannik Sinner defended his Australian Open title in clinical fashion to extend his grip as No.1 and underline his status as one of the greatest hard-court stars. By DAN IMHOFF ago when the underdog was forced to close a two-set deficit
This time only unheralded Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate in the second round and 13th seed Holger Rune in the fourth round – on a day he admitted he felt under the weather, which mind you was a scorcher – were the only foes who salvaged a set.
Sinner asserting all the while
This was Sinner asserting dominance all the while compartmentalising his current o -court challenges.
This time only unheralded Schoolkate in the second round a scorcher – were
“Of course, you have maybe this little extra pressure and attention on your side, which you have to handle, but in the other way, you know that you
can do it because you’ve done
“You try to understand whatever it is. What I understood this time is every day is different. You have days where you might feel a bit not 100 per cent, and then the next match all of a sudden, ‘Okay, I’m into the tournament’.
“I think I’ve learned many things throughout one year, not watching results, but how I am as a person and how I handle the situation on the court.”
“Of course, you have maybe this little extra pressure way, you know that you 10 opponents. his added motivation. No.1s Simona
The 23-year-old became the first man to defend his maiden Grand Slam title since Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2006 and the first player since 1973 to land 10 successive straight-sets victories over top-
In his nal Australian Open with revered coach Darren Cahill as part of his team, there was Cahill, who guided other Grand Slam greats and former No.1s Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep situation on the court.” in since 1973 to land 10 successive straight-sets with
“I think I’ve learned many things throughout one year, not watching results, but how I am as a person and how I handle the situation on the court.”
Jannik Sinner became the youngest man since Jim Courier in 1993 to defend at Melbourne Park.
JANNIK SINNER
SMASHING NEW HIGHS
History was made both on and off the court as a record 1.2 million fans watched epic feats unfold at AO 2025.
By JACKSON MANSELL
BY THE NUMBERS
825 players from 70 nations competed at Australian Open 2025.
1,102,303
fans attended Melbourne Park over the 15 days of main-draw competition, surpassing the previous record of 1,020,763 set in 2024.
1,218,831
fans attended Melbourne Park over the three weeks of the tournament, surpassing the previous record of 1,110,657 set in 2024.
97,132
fans attended on Day 6 of Australian Open 2025 – the highest single-day attendance in tournament history.
AUSSIE DOMINANCE
87
ACES HIGH
Australian players competed at Australian Open 2025 across all events – the most of any country.
MEN’S SINGLES
MOST ACES: Alexander Zverev [GER] 79
FASTEST SERVE: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard [FRA] and Ben Shelton [USA] –232km/h
ALEX DE MINAUR
the first Australian to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals since Nick Kyrgios in 2015.
The mixed doubles final was an all-Australian affair for the first time since 1967.
ALEKSANDAR VUKIC became the oldest Australian man since Wayne Arthurs in 2001 to make his major thirdround debut in Melbourne.
Of 22 Australians competing in singles at Australian Open 2025, 14 equalled or bettered their best run at their home Slam. became
Australian man since 14 equalled or bettered
WOMEN’S SINGLES
MOST ACES: Madison Keys
FASTEST SERVE: [ [USA] 34 Coco Gauff [USA] 194km/h
MADDIE’S MAJOR
MADISON KEYS is the first player to defeat the WTA top-two players en route to a major crown since Svetlana Kuznetsova at Roland Garros 2009, and the first to do so at Melbourne Park since Serena Williams in 2005.
The American’s second Grand Slam final came seven years and four months after the first, the longest span between first and second major finals in the Open era.
Keys also became the first woman in the Open era to win an Australian Open title after going the distance in fi ve rounds.
MARATHON MATCHES
MEN’S SINGLES
LONGEST MATCH: 4 hours, 51 minutes –Alejandro Davidovich Fokina [ESP] d [29] Felix Auger Aliassime [CAN] 6-7(7 ) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1 6-3, second round.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
LONGEST MATCH: 3 hours, 20 minutes –[8] Emma Navarro [USA] d Peyton Stearns [USA] 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5, first round.
SINNER WINNER
JANNIK SINNER became the first Italian to win three Grand Slams.
He is the youngest back-to-back men’s Australian Open champion since Jim Courier in 1992-93.
Sinner is the first to 10 consecutive straight-sets wins against top-10 opponents.
