Few countries have shaped tennis like Australia. A nation far from the sport's European and American heartlands produced Norman Brookes, the first overseas-born Wimbledon champion; Harry Hopman's Davis Cup dynasty; Rod Laver, the only player to win the calendar Grand Slam twice; Margaret Court, with a record 24 major singles titles; and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, whose journey from Barellan to Wimbledon inspired a nation.
Tennis History is an independent guide to that story. We explain who the great players were, what they won and why it mattered, and we trace the history of the Australian Open, its venues and the Davis Cup. Every page is written from scratch and lists its sources.
1905
First Australasian Championships
Today's Australian Open
28
Davis Cup titles
Plus 6 as Australasia
24
Margaret Court's majors
Women's singles record
Where to start
Champions
Meet the players who defined Australian tennis. Read about Rod Laver, the Rockhampton left-hander with two Grand Slams; Margaret Court, the record-breaking champion from Albury; Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the Wiradjuri world No. 1; Ash Barty, who retired at the top; and the modern champions Pat Cash, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Stosur. Read our champions guide.
The Australian Open
Trace the history of the Australian Open, from a cricket ground in 1905 to the world's best-attended Grand Slam, and visit its homes at Kooyong and Melbourne Park. Read our Australian Open guide.
Eras and the Davis Cup
Discover the early pioneers of the colonial era and Australasia, the golden era of Hopman's champions, and Australia's Davis Cup history. Read our eras guide.
Australian tennis at a glance
| Era | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1880–1922 | Colonial championships, Brookes, Australasia's six Davis Cups |
| 1923–1949 | Australian Championships become a major; Hopman's first Davis Cup |
| 1950–1967 | Golden era: Sedgman, Hoad, Rosewall, Emerson, Laver, Court |
| 1968–1987 | Open Era: Laver and Court Slams, Goolagong, Cash |
| 1988–today | Melbourne Park; Rafter, Hewitt, Stosur, Barty |
Use the interactive timeline below to explore each era.
Great Australian records
- Rod Laver is the only player to win the calendar Grand Slam twice, in 1962 and 1969.
- Margaret Court won 24 major singles titles and 64 major titles in total, records in women's tennis.
- Roy Emerson won 28 major titles, the all-time record for a man.
- Harry Hopman captained Australia to 16 Davis Cup titles.
- Ken Rosewall won 147 singles titles, including a record 15 pro majors.
- Lleyton Hewitt became the youngest man to reach world No. 1 in 2001, a record until 2022.
Why Australia?
Australian tennis grew from a network of colonial and state championships, grass courts and clubs, and an ambition to compete with the best despite great distances. The Davis Cup gave Australians a chance to beat the world's best at home, and Australian players dominated for decades. Read our golden era guide.
Women in Australian tennis
Australian women have a proud record, from Margaret Court's dominance and Evonne Goolagong Cawley's grace to Sam Stosur's 2011 US Open and Ash Barty's three majors. Goolagong and Barty, both Indigenous Australians, each reached world No. 1. Read about Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty.
Visiting tennis history
Melbourne is the heart of Australian tennis. Melbourne Park hosts the Australian Open each January, and Kooyong, the Open's former home, still hosts tennis. Read our guide to Kooyong and Melbourne Park.
About this guide
We rebuilt tennishistory.com.au in 2026 as an independent reference. The domain previously hosted a personal Australian tennis history blog; we are not connected with its author or with Tennis Heritage Australia. Every page is written from scratch, based on reputable references, and lists its sources. Read about us and our editorial policy.
