1969 Australian Open
The 1969 Australian Open was the first Australian Open and the final Grand Slam tournament 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. It was the 57th edition of the tournament, the 7th and last one held in Brisbane, and the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
| 1969 Australian Open | |
|---|---|
| Date | 20–27 January 1969 |
| Edition | 57th |
| Category | Grand Slam (ITF) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Location | Brisbane, Australia |
| Venue | Milton Courts |
| Champions | |
| Men's Singles | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Rod Laver | |
| Women's Singles | |
| Margaret Court | |
| Men's Doubles | |
| Rod Laver / Roy Emerson | |
| Women's Doubles | |
| Margaret Court / Judy Tegart Dalton | |
| Mixed Doubles | |
Margaret Court /  Marty Riessen  Ann Haydon Jones / Fred Stolle | |
Tournament
The semifinal between Rod Laver and Tony Roche was played in 105-degree heat. That contest dragged on for more than four hours, 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 Andrés 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 Ann Haydon Jones because the final was not played due to a lack of time. It was also the last year that a junior mixed doubles championship was played, Australians Geoff Masters and Barbara Hawcroft taking the title.[1][2] Laver's win was the first step towards his second Grand Slam.
Seniors
Men's singles
Rod Laver defeated .svg.png.webp){kind=small}
Andrés Gimeno, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
Women's singles
Margaret Court defeated Billie Jean King, 6–4, 6–1
Men's doubles
Rod Laver / Roy Emerson defeated Ken Rosewall / Fred Stolle, 6–4, 6–4
Women's doubles
Margaret Court / Judy Tegart Dalton defeated Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King, 6–4, 6–4
Mixed doubles
Margaret Court / Marty Riessen and Ann Haydon Jones / Fred Stolle (Shared title – final not played)
References
- "Australian Open:History (Year by year)". Australian Open. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
- "Careles Laver Wins At Brisbane". The Morning Record. AP. 28 January 1969. p. 9.