Despite Lleyton Hewitt’s drought-breaking victory in Brisbane on Sunday, it’s hard to imagine an Aussie winning a singles title at the Australian Open in 2014.
The last Aussie to win a singles title at the Australian Open was Chris O’Neil in the ladies singles in 1978!
Though this title drought is hard to accept, it should be remembered that Grand Slams are the hardest prize to win in this lonely, global sport and a lot of very good Australian players have never won a singles Grand Slam.
Here are five of the best.
Mark Philippoussis
Because of tacky cars, public tantrums and hot girlfriends, it’s easy to forget what a fine tennis player Mark Philippoussis was.
Philippoussis won 11 singles titles and achieved a career best ranking of eighth in the world.
Philippoussis lost two Grand Slam Finals – the US Open to Pat Rafter in 1998 and Wimbledon to Roger Federer in 2003, the first of 17 Slams for the Swiss maestro.
A two-time winner of the Davis Cup, Philippoussis built his game on a huge serve, as big as any Australian.
His ability to overwhelm opponents with serious power from the baseline was often hampered by serious knee injuries.
Ken Fletcher
Ken Fletcher – in partnership with Margret Court in 1963 – remains the only player in the history of tennis to win all four mixed doubles Grand Slams in a calendar year.
When doubles was frequently contested by the world’s leading singles players, Fletcher managed to win 11 grand slam doubles titles and was also an adept singles performer.
Fletcher won 37 singles titles, finished runner up to Roy Emerson in the 1963 Australia Open and held match points in the 1966 Wimbledon semi-finals, before eventually falling to Champion Manolo Santana.
Such was the depth of Australian tennis in his era, Fletcher rarely played Davis Cup.
Martin Mulligan
Mulligan was crushed 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 by Rod Laver in the 1962 Wimbledon final, Laver was on course for the calendar year grand slam.
Unfortunately this was the only Grand Slam final Mulligan reached, but it doesn’t disguise the fact he was a top class player.
A semi-finalist at the 1964 Australian Open, Mulligan was also three times a quarter-finalist at Ronald Garros.
Mulligan won over 50 tournaments worldwide and later became a celebrated coach in Italy.
Wendy Turnbull
Nicknamed ‘the rabbit’ for her quick, hustling style, Turnbill was a top ten player in the world every year from 1977-1984, peaking at number three.
She made three Grand Slam finals, losing the 1977 US Open and 1979 French Open finals to World Number one Chris Evert. In 1980 Turnbill was foiled by Hana Mandlíkova in the Australian Open final.
Turnbull was a model of consistency during her fine career. She won 478 singles matches, 13 titles and flourished in doubles where she won 55 titles, including nine Grand Slams.
Harry Hopman
As a player, coach and journalist very few people have served Australian tennis quite like Harry Hopman.
Hopman was involved in a staggering 22 Davis Cup victories and helped mentor most of the greats from the golden era of Australian tennis: John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson included.
Hopaman’s dedication to fitness was legendary. Hopman once said, “I don’t teach people, I stretch them.”
What’s often forgotten about Hopman is he could really play himself. In addition to winning seven Grand Slam doubles titles, Hopman was an accomplished singles player, losing the Australian Open final three times, twice to the great Jack Crawford.
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