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Australian Open Interesting Facts
One of the strongest fields in Australian Open history came to play with all of the world’s top 100 men and 98 of the top 100 women in the main draw.
Thirteen Grand Slam tournament champions, including former Australian Open champions Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova were among the star-studded line-up.
More than 46 nations were represented among the 256 players in the main singles draw. There were 665 players in competition across all events, including 111 juniors, 21 wheelchair players and eight legends of the game.
No.11 seed Na Li created history as the first Chinese player in history to reach a Grand Slam final.
Canadian rising star Milos Raonic recorded the fastest serve of the tournament at 230km/h and had a total of 94 aces, the highest of any male player at the Australian Open, while Nadia Petrova served 18 aces despite only reaching the third round.
The Wilson stringers restrung 3492 racquets using 42.5km of string over the course of the tournament, equal to a return trip from Rod Laver Arena to Melbourne Airport.
A group of IBM statisticians noted 461 challenges by players of which only 27 per cent were overturned, with Henin the most successful with three calls overturned from her five challenges.
The host of celebrities and sports stars watching the action unfold at Rod Laver Arena during the tournament, included songstress Dannii Minogue, Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, Hollywood stars Eric Bana, Toni Collette, Melissa George and Radha Mitchell, country music star Kenny Rogers, Australian golfer Adam Scott and Olympic gold medallist Lydia Lassila.
Australian tennis legend, doubles champion Owen Davidson, was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame on Australia Day, while Davis Cup and Grand Slam champion Frank Sedgman was honoured at the annual Legends Luncheon.
Matches were officiated by an international team of 335 umpires and linespersons from as far afield as Egypt, France, Italy, South Africa, Japan, USA and Mexico. The heart and soul of the Australian Open – the energetic MLC Ballkids – included 347 from around Australia and 20 from Korea.
More than 49,000 Wilson tennis balls were ordered for the tournament, with proceeds from the sale of balls used in matches donated to the Australian Tennis Foundation.
More than 3000 white player towels were laundered daily and 2500 official Australian Open towels were used in Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and Show Courts in Melbourne Park.
The sixteen match courts used during the Australian Open were serviced by 80 staff who used 600 court towels to ensure court surfaces were perfectly prepared for each match.
More than 11,000 official player towels (both men’s and women’s styles) were sold in the Australian Open Shop. Other popular items were the jumbo Wilson tennis balls, Australian Open T-shirts and official tote bags.
Fans enjoyed a selection of food and beverages, including 79,000 Aussie sausages, 100,000 healthy sandwiches, 80,000 pieces of sushi, 9000 chicken schnitzels, and 35 tonnes of hot chips. In the exclusive player café, more than 79,000 kilograms of pasta and 7000 portions of fish were served.
Players were transported by a fleet of 101 Kia cars with more than 35,000 journeys made to and from Melbourne Park by 215 drivers, clocking up more than 400,000km.
Popular Victorian tourism attractions visited by international players included Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne Aquarium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Melbourne Zoo.
Making it all happen behind the scenes were more than 7000 staff, contractors and volunteers employed by Tennis Australia, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust (MOPT) and catering suppliers Delaware North.
On the eve of the Australian Open the tennis world united to support Rally for Relief, raising more than $2.4 million for the victims of the devastating floods around Australia.
Funds were raised through door sales to the event, donations through the website and through online auctions of signed shirts and memorabilia from all the top players.
A commemorative poster featuring all the players participating in the event was produced and can be purchased through australianopenshop.com.
The inaugural Kids Tennis Day welcomed 3000 participants.
Grand Slam Oval
Grand Slam Oval™ was the off-court success story last year and at Australian Open 2011 the multi-faceted entertainment precinct had even more on offer.
Linking Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, Grand Slam Oval™ – at more than 11,000 square metres – has become the destination for those wanting to chill out, have a drink, watch the tennis on the big screen, enjoy a great line-up of live music and DJs and some very cool activities.