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

#3 Johan Kriek, world ranking - 19 (1981)

Johan Kriek

Johan Kriek had his finest hour at the 1981 Australian Open as he beat American Steve Denton in the final to become the first South African player to win a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era.

The Australian Open in those days used to be held on grass at the Kooyong Arena, and was a 64-player draw.

Kriek dropped his only sets before the final against New Zealand's Chris Lewis in the fourth round. He then beat Timothy Mayotte in the quarterfinals and 1976 champion Mark Edmondson in the semifinals to arrive in his first Major summit clash.

In the final against Denton, Kriek delivered a four-set win to become the first player from the African continent to triumph at a Major. The win ascended the 19th ranked Kriek to a career-high 13th in the world rankings.

Kriek played his last Major at the 1982 Australian Open, which he won, in the process joining a select group of players to have won their last Grand Slam tournament.