Men's Tennis: 5 Youngest Australian Open Champions

The Australian Open, billed as the 'Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific', has been played traditionally during the Australian summer season. First held in 1905, the Australian Open has grown in terms of popularity and is now the largest sporting spectacle in the Southern Hemisphere generating significant revenue through tourism for the country.

The Grand Slam was the first among the Grand Slams to have a retractable roof at the famous Rod Laver Arena and later the Margaret Court Arena. Initially known as the Australasian Championships, the Australian Open is the only Grand Slam to have been played across 7 cities in 2 different countries. Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Christchurch, Hastings and Melbourne have all played host to this Grand Slam event.

In the earlier days, the tournament was played on grass much like Wimbledon. Later carpet surface was also used. Today it is one of two Grand Slams along with the US Open played on hard courts. The winner of the Men's Singles competition is presented with a replica of the 'Norman Brookes Challenge Cup'. We take a look at the 5 youngest winners in the competition's history:

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#5 John Bromwich

John Bromwich in the centre along with the 1939 Australian Davis Cup Team

John Bromwich of Australia had a very unorthodox approach. He was primarily a left-handed player but served using his right-hand and was one of the first players to use a two-handed backhand. Bromwich was part of the historic 1939 Australian Davis Cup Team which remains the only team in the competition's storied history to come back from 0-2 down in a final and win.

An accomplished player across all 3 categories, Bromwich won Grand Slams in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. His first of 2 Australian Open triumphs came in 1939 when he was 21 years, 75 days old. He would consider himself unlucky as the tournament was not held for 5 years from 1941 to 1945. His second title came in 1946 when the tournament became an annual fixture again.

#4 Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

One of 3 men to have won the Australian Open trophy a record six times, Novak Djokovic has enjoyed tremendous success at Melbourne. His first Grand Slam triumph came at the 2008 Australian Open where be beat then 4-time winner and top seed Roger Federer in straight sets in the semi-final before defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.

Djokovic was 2cccc0 years, 250 days old at the time. Djokovic would win a hat-trick of titles between 2011 tco 2013 and added another two titles in 2015 and 2016 after missing out in 2014. The newly crowned World Number 1 will start the 2019 Australian Open as the heavy favourite.

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#3 Stefan Edberg

Stefan Edberg

Part of the famed trio from Sweden along with Mats Wilander and Bjorn Borg, Edberg was an exceptionally talented tennis prodigy much like his two other illustrious countrymen. One of only 3 men to win the ATP Finals in both Doubles and Singles categories, Edberg won all the Grand Slams barring the French Open where he finished runner-up in 1989.

Edberg's first Grand Slam triumph came at the 1985 Australian Open where he beat compatriot Mats Wilander in straight sets in the final. Edberg was 19 years, 323 days old at the time.

#2 Mats Wilander

Mats Wilander

Swedish player Mats Wilander tasted immense success as a teenager and won a record 4 Grand Slam Singles titles before turning 20. Although he never won Wimbledon, he won the Australian Open tournament when it was played on grass making him one of 6 men to have won Grand Slam tournaments across 3 different surfaces.

Together with Nadal, Wilander is only one of the two players with 2 or more Grand Slam triumphs in all the 3 different surfaces. Wilander's first Australian Open triumph came in 1983 came when he was 19 years, 111 days old.

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#1 Ken Rosewall

Ken Rosewall at the 50th anniversary of his French Open victory

Ken Rosewall has the unique distinction of being the youngest and oldest Australian Open winner. The Australian won his first Australian Open title in 1953 at the age of 19 years, 76 days and won his last Australian Open title in 1972 at the age of 38.

He holds the record for the most number of years between first and last Grand Slam triumph among Men. In a glittering career, Rosewall won 8 Grand Slam Singles titles and 11 Grand Slam Doubles titles in addition to helping Australia win the Davis Cup 4 times.