Australian Open news: Five memorable matches that lit up Melbourne Park
The hard courts of Melbourne Park have witnessed some memorable matches over the years, from the mastery of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to Madison Keys’ finest hour.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Lorenzo Gagliotta takes a trip down memory lane to explore five of the best showdowns in recent Australian Open history.
Feeling the heat: 2009 men’s final between Djokovic and Murray
Thanks to an enthralling Australian Open, one that saw extreme heat, the 2011 season started off with a spectacle in the Rod Laver Arena.
World number one Rafael Nadal had fallen to compatriot David Ferrer in the quarter-finals, while defending champion Roger Federer lost his semi-final to world number three Novak Djokovic.
The stage was thus set for an exciting match-up between Briton Andy Murray, who was looking to clinch his first Australian Open, and Serbian Novak Djokovic.
Murray started off strong, saving multiple break points, but a few jitters saw his opponent build up momentum and gain some rhythm.
After that first set, the Serb managed to find his stride by understanding Murray’s serve game and duly capitalised, winning seven straight games.
Murray struggled to regain a foothold and lost his confidence, no longer able to hone in on his strength – attacking from the baseline.
As the match drew to a close, Djokovic had the upperhand, and his domination and control eventually saw him win 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
It was his second Australian Open at the time and a result that continued Murray’s drought in Grand Slam finals.
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American underdog reigns supreme: 2025 women’s final between Sabalenka and Keys
The Melbourne Park faithful witnessed a three-set thriller between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and 19th seed Madison Keys last year.
Keys headed into the Open off the back of a triumphant Adelaide International and felt her time had come to achieve big at the first Grand Slam of the 2025 season.
Sabalenka struggled in the opening stages of the match, having difficulties with her serve and conceding a number of double faults.
The American was quick on her toes and gained some momentum over a struggling Sabalenka, but the Belarusian’s comeback record was remarkable for a reason.
In the end, though, a few master strokes from Keys changed the game in her favour before a beauty of a forehand secured a maiden Grand Slam trophy.
Keys also became the first player at the Australian Open to defeat the top two seeds since compatriot Serena Williams in 2005.
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Tien’s tiebreak upset against Medvedev in 2025
Ranked as the world number 121 at the time, Learner Tien had a mountain to climb in his second-round match-up with the experienced Daniil Medvedev in 2025.
Having entered the tournament – his first Grand Slam – as a qualifier, the 19-year-old subsequently announced himself on the world stage with a shock upset.
It was a match that had everything a tennis fan could possibly want: drama, excitement, surprises and more in four hours and 49 minutes of action.
The young American started off flawless, which created much frustration for Medvedev, disrupting the flow of his game and causing the Russian to throw a few antics.
Although Medvedev looked to change the course of the match by capitalising on the rookie’s mistakes, Tien’s touch and technique in an epic tiebreak saw him survive and seal a monumental win.
He became the youngest American man in 35 years, since the days of Pete Sampras, to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
A Melbourne classic: 2015 women’s final between Williams and Sharapova
In 2015, world number one Serena Williams had to battle through thick and thin against historic rival Maria Sharapova in a match for the ages.
The American struggled with illness throughout, but her tennis excellency saw her compete in what was her sixth consecutive Australian Open final.
Sharapova was looking to get her revenge for a loss to Williams in the 2007 final.
The match started after delays due to rain and despite fighting a cold, Williams found her inner strength to win six straight games.
As the match went on, the Russian found her stride, hitting some important forehand winners and getting to a tight tiebreak, but the sheer power and presence of her opponent got the job done on the day.
Williams clinched her sixth Australian Open and a 19th major singles title with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory.
In contrast, a decade-long drought in finals continued for Sharapova.
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The hard-court battle between Nadal and Federer in 2009 men’s final
A fantastic five-set final in Melbourne in 2009 featured a battle between tennis greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as they fought out a historic rivalry.
Under the floodlights, the opening stages of the match saw some tight encounters before the Spaniard came to play, hitting ridiculous backhand winners to really get Federer thinking.
The world number two looked to make the most of Nadal’s physical struggles, pushing him to his very limits.
Nadal managed to strike back despite the heavy pressure, keeping himself composed under pressure and finding his flow in the closing stages of the match.
A surprising long forehand from three-time Australian Open winner Federer saw Nadal become the first male Spaniard to win a hard-court Slam.
It was Nadal’s third victory over his close rival following wins in the 2008 season at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Ultimately, 2009’s final was a classic, filled with intensity and raw emotion – etched in the history books and forever part of Melbourne Park’s memories.
