5 lowest-ranked men's singles champions at the Australian Open

#4 Thomas Johansson, world ranking - 18 (2002)

Thomas Johansson lifts his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2002 Australian Open

Sweden's decade-long wait for a men's singles Grand Slam champion since Stefan Edberg lifted the 1992 US Open title was brought to an unlikely end by Thomas Johansson at the 2002 Australian Open.

The weight of Swedish expectations for a Grand Slam champion had downed Thomas Enqvist in the 1999 Australian Open final against Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and did the same to Magnus Norman at 2000 Roland Garros against Gustavo Kuerten. The country yearned to return to the good old days of Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg, who captured 24 Major titles between 1974 and 1992.

For a player who never made it past the Australian Open third round in seven previous appearances at the tournament, Johansson exceeded expectations merely by reaching the second week in Melbourne that Australian summer. But the fortnight was to get better still for the Swede.

Johansson beat Romania's Adrian Boinea in the fourth round and fellow countryman Jonas Bjorkman in the quarterfinals to reach his first Major semifinal, where Czech Jiri Novak lay in wait. After taking the first set on a tiebreak, Johansson spectacularly unravelled in the next two sets as he won a combined four games to concede a two sets to one lead.

But the Swede regrouped in time, claiming a hard fought five-set win with his fourth match point to reach his maiden Major final.

In a competitive title match against 2000 US Open winner Marat Safin, Johansson lost his serve twice in the opening set as the tall Russian took a one set lead. Thereafter Johansson took control of the contest, as Safin ceded the initiative to his inspired opponent.

Johansson's backhand and return of serve coupled with the seemingly disinterested Safin's flurry of unforced errors meant that the former became the first 16th seed to win a Grand Slam tournament, and the lowest ranked player to win a Major since 66th ranked Gustavo Kuerten's triumph at Roland Garros 1997.

With the win, Johansson broke into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time.