IT is 35 years since Mats Wilander dashed the dreams of local hope Pat Cash in an epic final to close the first Australian Open played on the hard courts of Melbourne Park.
From 1988 onwards, Rod Laver Arena, the first grand slam stadium court to have a roof, has hosted some of the greatest major finals ever played.
Much has changed since, not least the colour scheme of the courts, with the green Rebound Ace replaced in 2008 by the current ocean blue acrylic surface.
All the legends have produced magnificent moments: Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Steffi Graf, Rafael Nadal, Monica Seles, Andre Agassi and Ash Barty are among the champions to hold aloft the championship trophies.
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald have selected some of the greatest deciders played at Rod Laver Arena based on their quality, the calibre of the finalists and the significance of the result.
We talked to some participants, either the players themselves or those in other roles at the time, for further insight.
First up, cast your mind back to less than 12 months ago when Barty created more history on a memorable women’s singles finals night.
2022 Ash Barty (Aus) d. Danielle Collins (USA) 6-3, 7-6 (2)
Ash Barty breaks a 44-year droughtCredit:Eddie Jim
Shortly before last year’s Australian Open final, Ash Barty was bouncing on her feet while chatting with her coach Craig Tyzzer.
The Queenslander appeared relaxed ahead of her bid to end a title drought by locals that had stretched to 44 years. But the calm exterior belied her true emotions.
As she walked along the corridor to Rod Laver Arena, past the photographs denoting previous champions, Barty’s heart was pounding.
“I could hear the rumbling and the murmuring as I came down that tunnel and it was loud. I could sense the crowd’s excitement,” she told The Age and the Herald.
“I was excited myself. I had that dry mouth and my heart was beating that little bit faster.”
The next 90 minutes provided the perfect punctuation point for a glittering career.
It is not the best final played at Melbourne Park but, from an Australian perspective, it is the most important. The drought was over.
Ash Barty en route to winning the Australian Open.Credit:Getty Images
The 2021 Wimbledon champion started brilliantly, using her serve and variety to unsettle Collins. But to the American’s credit, she rallied strongly.
An aggressive baseliner, Collins blazed the line with blistering forehands and backhands in the second set to move to a 5-1 lead.
Barty began punching her thighs. Move, she urged herself. And she did by stepping forward to clip a couple of returns.
It was an important adjustment that caught Collins out and the momentum changed again.
The composure the top seed displayed to overcome that deficit and the class she showed when crushing a forehand winner across court to win the title was immense.
It was the last forehand she would hit in a grand slam match. And it was a ripper.
Barty doubled over and unleashed a guttural roar of triumph.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley presents the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to Ash Barty after last year’s Australian Open women’s final.Credit:AP
The ceremony was a blur. But celebrations with her family and friends including Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Cathy Freeman are treasured memories.
After completing media commitments, she headed to an after party in the city but managed just one beer before exhaustion set in.
“Waking up the next morning, when it all started to sink in, that is when it started to feel a bit strange,” she said.
“What had felt like a dream for me to live out had happened and I felt really fortunate. It was a brilliant way to finish.”
Read Greg Baum’s report from the final HERE.
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