2007 Australian Open

Notable stories

New technology used in line-calling

This was the first time that the tournament used the Hawk-Eye system in an official line-calling capacity, as an auxiliary to the human line judges. Players were given the opportunity to challenge a human line call if they believed it to be incorrect, by having Hawk-Eye confirm or overrule the original call. The system was installed on only one court being used for the tournament, in the Rod Laver Arena.

At the beginning of a set, the players were each given the opportunity to incorrectly challenge a maximum of two line calls during the set. A player who still had some incorrect challenges remaining was allowed to make an unlimited number of correct challenges, but when a player had no incorrect challenges remaining, his or her opportunity to challenge line calls was lost. Players received an extra incorrect challenge during a tiebreak. The players regained both challenges at the beginning of each set and also after every 12 games in the final deciding set. Unused challenges did not carry over when this happened.

An additional aspect to the new system was that a video replay screen was installed inside the arena for the first time, to display the results of the challenges. The screen also allowed the spectators (and players themselves) to view instant replays that could previously only be seen by the television audience and those viewing the match on screens outside the stadium. This implementation caused noticeable drama in a match between No. 2 Amélie Mauresmo and Olga Puchkova in which Mauresmo challenged the in call on Poutchkova's shot and the replay showed the ball out graphically but still called the ball in.

Factional fighting on day 1

On 15 January 2007, around one hundred and fifty Australian youths of Serbian, Croatian and Greek origins were ejected from the Open after brawling with one another in Garden Square at Melbourne Park. The brawl reportedly developed after fans taunted each other with nationalist slogans. According to The Age newspaper, twenty police tried to quell the disturbance, which allegedly developed after an informal understanding between some Serb and Croat fans — that the two groups would not attend on the same day — was broken. The two opposing groups were ejected out separate exits and escorted away from the venue in opposite directions by police. No arrests were made, and no charges were laid against any of the participants.

The Greek supporters protested that they had not been involved in the taunts exchanged between the Serb and Croat contingents, though The Age reported that some Greek supporters had sided with some Serbs and chanted, "Greece, Serbia! Greece, Serbia!" and "We must support our Orthodox brothers". Serb fans claimed that the violence had been provoked by Croat use of the Croatian national flag, which in their eyes carried connotations of Second World War fascism, while Croats claimed that the violence was provoked by Serbs shouting anti-Croat, pro-Serb chants.

A Croatian supporter suffered minor injuries in the ethnic brawl after being hit with a Serbian flagpole. People wearing Croatian or Serbian national colours were subsequently refused entry and the next day featured heightened security. Police in Victoria said that this sort of behaviour was never seen in the tournament before.

Weather conditions

Heat in excess of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Day 2 caused the Extreme Heat Policy to be implemented. Most daytime matches were delayed, and matches continued on outside courts till 3.30am the following morning. Janko Tipsarević chose to forfeit his match against David Nalbandian because of the heat. On Rod Laver Arena with the roof open, top-seeded Maria Sharapova nearly succumbed to the heat, losing a 5–0 lead in the final set, but managed to defeat Camille Pin 6–3. 4–6, 9–7.

During the night sessions on Day 3, the Australian Open was affected by rain delaying play. Three men's matches were postponed in progress. The matches on Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Arena were delayed for only 15 minutes while the retractable roofs closed. Marat Safin wisely requested that play be suspended while noticeably out of the match against Dudi Sela with Sela up two sets to one, six games to five, and 30-30. After the delay, Safin returned to win the fourth set and then the final set 6–0 to advance. This was reminiscent of the match in the 2006 Australian Open in which Marcos Baghdatis advanced after appearing rejuvenated against David Nalbandian. The match on Rod Laver featuring women's number two Amélie Mauresmo and Olga Puchkova was barely underway when the rains came.

Rain on day six caused play to only proceed on the covered courts of Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Arena, for the duration of the day. Thus, only high seeds Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Nikolay Davydenko, Kim Clijsters, James Blake, and Martina Hingis were able to play their matches, as well as Australians Alicia Molik and Lleyton Hewitt. Players scheduled for play on the outer courts had to wait until Day 7, and faced the possibility of playing on consecutive days for the winners. Initially only 10 matches were scheduled for play in Laver and Vodafone, but the match between Andy Murray and Juan Ignacio Chela was moved indoors, to leave only five delayed matches in men's and women's singles.

Seniors

Men's singles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Men's singles

SUI Roger Federer defeated CHI Fernando González, 7–6(7–2), 6–4, 6–4

• It was Federer's 1st title of the year, and his 46th overall. It was his 10th career Grand Slam title, and his 3rd Australian Open title.

Women's singles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Women's singles

USA Serena Williams defeated RUS Maria Sharapova, 6–1, 6–2

Men's doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Men's doubles

USA Bob Bryan / USA Mike Bryan defeated SWE Jonas Björkman / BLR Max Mirnyi, 7–5, 7–5

Women's doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Women's doubles

ZIM Cara Black / RSA Liezel Huber defeated TPE Chan Yung-jan / TPE Chuang Chia-jung, 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–1

Mixed doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Mixed doubles

CAN Daniel Nestor / RUS Elena Likhovtseva defeated BLR Max Mirnyi / BLR Victoria Azarenka, 6–4, 6–4

Juniors

Boys' singles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Boys' singles

AUS Brydan Klein defeated FRA Jonathan Eysseric, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1

Girls' singles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Girls' singles

RUS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated USA Madison Brengle, 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–3)

Boys' doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Boys' doubles

GBR Graeme Dyce / FIN Harri Heliövaara defeated AUS Stephen Donald / IND Rupesh Roy, 6–2, 6–7(4–7), 6–3

Girls' doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Girls' doubles

RUS Evgeniya Rodina / RUS Arina Rodionova defeated USA Julia Cohen / POL Urszula Radwańska, 2–6, 6–3, 6-1

Wheelchair

Men's wheelchair singles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Wheelchair men's singles

JPN Shingo Kunieda defeated FRA Michaël Jérémiasz, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4

Women's wheelchair singles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's singles

NED Esther Vergeer defeated FRA Florence Gravellier, 6–1, 6–0

Men's wheelchair doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Wheelchair men's doubles

NED Robin Ammerlaan / JPN Shingo Kunieda defeated NED Maikel Scheffers/ NED Ronald Vink, 6–2, 6–0

Women's wheelchair doubles

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's doubles

NED Jiske Griffioen / NED Esther Vergeer defeated FRA Florence Gravellier/ NED Korie Homan, 6–0, 3–6, [10–6]

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below with the round in which they exited.

Men

1. SUI Roger Federer (champion)
2. ESP Rafael Nadal (quarterfinals, lost to Fernando González)
3. RUS Nikolay Davydenko (quarterfinals, lost to Tommy Haas)
4. CRO Ivan Ljubičić (first round, lost to Mardy Fish)
5. USA James Blake (fourth round, lost to Fernando González)
6. USA Andy Roddick (semifinals, lost to Roger Federer)
7. ESP Tommy Robredo (quarterfinals, lost to Roger Federer)
8. ARG David Nalbandian (fourth round, lost to Tommy Haas)
9. CRO Mario Ančić (fourth round, lost to Andy Roddick)
10. CHI Fernando González (final, lost to Roger Federer)
11. CYP Marcos Baghdatis (second round, lost to Gaël Monfils)
12. GER Tommy Haas (semifinals, lost to Fernando González)
13. CZE Tomáš Berdych (fourth round, lost to Nikolay Davydenko)
14. SRB Novak Djokovic (fourth round, lost to Roger Federer)
15. GBR Andy Murray (fourth round, lost to Rafael Nadal)
16. ESP David Ferrer (fourth round, lost to Mardy Fish)
17. FIN Jarkko Nieminen (second round, lost to Juan Ignacio Chela)
18. FRA Richard Gasquet (fourth round, lost to Tommy Robredo)
19. AUS Lleyton Hewitt (third round, lost to Fernando González)
20. CZE Radek Štěpánek (third round, lost to David Ferrer)
21. RUS Dmitry Tursunov (third round, lost to Tomáš Berdych)
22. SVK Dominik Hrbatý * (Third Round, lost to Mario Ančić)*
23. SWE Robin Söderling (first round, lost to Florian Mayer)
24. ESP Juan Carlos Ferrero (second round, lost to Danai Udomchoke)
25. RUS Mikhail Youzhny (third round, lost to Roger Federer)
26. RUS Marat Safin (third round, lost to Andy Roddick)
27. ARG José Acasuso (first round, lost to Sam Querrey)
28. FRA Sébastien Grosjean (third round, lost to David Nalbandian)
29. BEL Xavier Malisse (first round, lost to Arnaud Clément)
30. ARG Agustín Calleri (first round, lost to Zack Fleishman)
31. SUI Stanislas Wawrinka (third round, lost to Rafael Nadal)
32. ESP Nicolás Almagro (first round, lost to Robby Ginepri)

Women

1. RUS Maria Sharapova (final, lost to Serena Williams)
2. FRA Amélie Mauresmo (fourth round, lost to Lucie Šafářová)
3. RUS Svetlana Kuznetsova (fourth round, lost to Shahar Pe'er)
4. BEL Kim Clijsters (semifinals, lost to Maria Sharapova)
5. RUS Nadia Petrova (third round, lost to Serena Williams)
6. SUI Martina Hingis (quarterfinals, lost to Kim Clijsters)
7. RUS Elena Dementieva (fourth round, lost to Nicole Vaidišová)
8. SUI Patty Schnyder (fourth round, lost to Anna Chakvetadze)
9. RUS Dinara Safina (third round, lost to Li Na)
10. CZE Nicole Vaidišová (semifinals, lost to Serena Williams)
11. SRB Jelena Janković (fourth round, lost to Serena Williams)
12. RUS Anna Chakvetadze (quarterfinals, lost to Maria Sharapova)
13. SRB Ana Ivanovic (third round, lost to Vera Zvonareva)
14. ITA Francesca Schiavone (second round, lost to Lucie Šafářová)
15. SVK Daniela Hantuchová (fourth round, lost to Kim Clijsters)
16. ISR Shahar Pe'er (quarterfinals, lost to Serena Williams)
17. GER Anna-Lena Grönefeld (second round, lost to Ashley Harkleroad)
18. FRA Marion Bartoli (second round, lost to Victoria Azarenka)
19. CHN Li Na (fourth round, lost to Martina Hingis)
20. FRA Tatiana Golovin (third round, lost to Shahar Pe'er)
21. SVN Katarina Srebotnik (third round, lost to Casey Dellacqua)
22. RUS Vera Zvonareva (fourth round, lost to Maria Sharapova)
23. JPN Ai Sugiyama (second round, lost to Anastasiya Yakimova)
24. AUS Samantha Stosur (second round, lost to Jelena Kostanić Tošić)
25. ESP Anabel Medina Garrigues (first round, lost to Elena Vesnina)
26. RUS Maria Kirilenko (third round, lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova)
27. ITA Mara Santangelo (first round, lost to Serena Williams)
28. ITA Flavia Pennetta (first round, lost to Kaia Kanepi)
29. UKR Alona Bondarenko (third round, lost to Kim Clijsters)
30. ITA Tathiana Garbin (third round, lost to Maria Sharapova)
31. CHN Zheng Jie (first round, lost to Julia Schruff)
32. GRE Eleni Daniilidou (first round, lost to Aiko Nakamura)

Main draw wildcard entries

Men's singles

• AUS Wayne Arthurs
• AUS Chris Guccione
• AUS Alun Jones
• AUS Peter Luczak
• USA Sam Querrey
• AUS Robert Smeets
• JPN Go Soeda
• FRA Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Women's singles

• AUS Monique Adamczak
• USA Madison Brengle
• AUS Casey Dellacqua
• FRA Youlia Fedossova
• AUS Sophie Ferguson
• AUS Alicia Molik
• AUS Jessica Moore
• UZB Iroda Tulyaganova

Men's doubles

• AUS Wayne Arthurs / AUS Peter Luczak
• AUS Paul Baccanello / AUS Chris Guccione
• AUS Carsten Ball / AUS Adam Feeney
• AUS Andrew Coelho / AUS Alun Jones
• AUS Nathan Healey / AUS Robert Smeets
• AUS Greg Jones / AUS Brydan Klein

Women's doubles

• AUS Monique Adamczak / AUS Evie Dominikovic
• AUS Lauren Breadmore / AUS Emily Hewson
• TPE Chan Yung-jan / TPE Chuang Chia-jung
• AUS Casey Dellacqua / AUS Jessica Moore
• AUS Daniella Dominikovic / AUS Sophie Ferguson
• FRA Tatiana Golovin / AUS Alicia Molik
• AUS Trudi Musgrave / AUS Christina Wheeler

Mixed doubles

• AUS Monique Adamczak / AUS Stephen Huss
• AUS Casey Dellacqua / AUS Chris Guccione
• AUS Alicia Molik / AUS Paul Hanley
• AUS Nicole Pratt / AUS Ashley Fisher
• AUS Bryanne Stewart / AUS Nathan Healey

Qualifier entries

Men's qualifiers entries

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Men's singles qualifying

1. GBR Alan Mackin
2. USA Zack Fleishman
3. GER Alexander Waske
4. GER Mischa Zverev
5. RUS Teymuraz Gabashvili
6. USA Michael Russell
7. USA Bobby Reynolds
8. SUI Marco Chiudinelli
9. CRO Marin Čilić
10. GER Michael Berrer
11. ISR Dudi Sela
12. CHI Paul Capdeville
13. SVK Lukáš Lacko
14. SRB Ilija Bozoljac
15. USA Brian Wilson
16. USA Alex Kuznetsov

Women's qualifiers entries

Main article: 2007 Australian Open – Women's singles qualifying

1. FRA Alizé Cornet
2. RUS Alla Kudryavtseva
3. FRA Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro
4. CZE Sandra Záhlavová
5. UKR Julia Vakulenko
6. CZE Klára Zakopalová
7. SLO Andreja Klepač
8. ARG Jorgelina Cravero
9. USA Ahsha Rolle
10. CZE Renata Voráčová
11. LUX Anne Kremer
12. AUT Tamira Paszek

Protected ranking

The following players were accepted directly into the main draw using a protected ranking:

;Men's Singles

• ROU Victor Hănescu
• SWE Joachim Johansson

;Women's Singles

• RUS Elena Bovina

Withdrawn players

;Men's Singles

• USA Justin Gimelstob → replaced by CZE Jiří Vaněk
• GBR Tim Henman → replaced by RUS Evgeny Korolev
• GER Nicolas Kiefer → replaced by THA Danai Udomchoke
• NED Martin Verkerk → replaced by LUX Gilles Müller

;Women's Singles

• USA Lindsay Davenport → replaced by ISR Tzipora Obziler
• BEL Justine Henin-Hardenne → replaced by RUS Galina Voskoboeva
• ESP María José Martínez Sánchez → replaced by CHN Yuan Meng
• RUS Anastasia Myskina → replaced by FRA Stéphanie Foretz
• USA Venus Williams → replaced by SUI Emmanuelle Gagliardi

Attendance

Media coverage

Coverage of the 2007 Australian Open was as follows: ;Television networks

• Australia — Channel Seven (Live)
• Australia — Fox Sports (Live)
• Canada — TSN (Live and re-runs)
• Europe — Eurosport (Live)
• India — Star Sports (Live)
• Latin America — ESPN (Live and re-runs)
• Macedonia — Macedonian Radio-Television
• Netherlands — Sport 1 (Live)
• Netherlands — Nederland 1 & Nederland 3 (Highlights)
• New Zealand — SKY Sport (Live)
• Singapore — ESPN (Live)
• South Africa — Supersport
• South America — ESPN (Live) & ESPN+ (Live)
• United Kingdom — BBC One (Live – finals only)
• United Kingdom — BBC Red Button (Live – evening sessions only)
• United Kingdom — BBC Two (Live – Unscheduled coverage)
• United States — ESPN2 & ESPN (Live) ;Radio
• United Kingdom — BBC Radio 5 Live (Live)

Controversies and scandals

• Three men were arrested for taking up-skirt photos inside Melbourne Park.
• Police were summoned to investigate the sexual assault of a five-year-old boy in a toilet cubicle at the tournament.
• Maria Sharapova was fined $2000 for allegations of sideline-coaching from her father, Yuri Sharapov in her match against Anna Chakvetadze.

References

References

1. "Australian Open Showcases the Wonderful World of Tennis".
2. (September 2018)
3. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/tennis/serbs-croats-clash-at-open/2007/01/15/1168709659893.html?page=fullpage Serbs, Croats clash at Open - Tennis - Sport - smh.com.au]
4. [http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2834&Itemid=228 2GB.com - Swans in strife]
5. Nestor and Likhovtseva came back from the [[2006 Australian Open]] mixed doubles final to win the title.
6. "Archived copy".
7. "Third up-skirt incident mars Australian Open – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos".
8. "Maria Sharapova Fined for Illegal Coaching – Maria Sharapova was fined at Australian after her father allegedly used hand signals to coach her during the match". Toronto Daily News.