The 2010 Australian Open described in detail, in the form of day-by-day summaries.
Hit for Haiti (17 January)
A day prior to the tournament, a charity match called Hit for Haiti was held to raise funds to aid victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The event was proposed by Roger Federer, and was organised in under 24 hours. It was held in Rod Laver Arena at 2 pm and lasted about 90 minutes; tickets cost A$10 for adults and were free for children under 12.[1] Nine players participated, in two teams (named after the colours in the Haitian flag). Team Red consisted of Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, and Samantha Stosur, and Team Blue was Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, and late substitute Bernard Tomic. Former player and current TV analyst Jim Courier served as the chair umpire. Players wore microphones during play, and competed in doubles, mixed doubles, and other arrangements. Team Red defeated Team Blue, 7–6. Additional donations were solicited at the event, and several other players – including Marcos Baghdatis and Maria Sharapova – donated money directly. An early count had at least A$159,000 raised; later reports put the figure around A$400,000.[2][3][4]
Day 1 (18 January)
The 2010 Australian Open started with inclement weather in southeastern Australia. Rain temporarily suspended play on the outer courts, allowing play on only Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, which have retractable roofs. Play was able to begin on the outer courts approximately an hour later. The rain continued intermittently throughout the day, forcing some matches to be postponed until Day 2.
On the women's side, world number one Serena Williams defeated Urszula Radwańska 6–2, 6–1, and AustralianSamantha Stosur won her match at Rod Laver Arena 6–1, 3–6, 6–2. Venus Williams, seeded sixth, also won her opening match 6–2, 6–2 over Lucie Šafářová. 18th seed Virginie Razzano and 25th seed Anabel Medina Garrigues both lost in straight sets, while 23rd seed Dominika Cibulková fell in three sets. Perhaps the most notable women's match of the day, however, involved two unseeded players. Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová defeated Regina Kulikova 7–6(5), 6–7(10), 6–3 in a match that lasted 4 hours, 19 minutes—the longest women's match by time in a Grand Slam event in the open era, and believed to be the second-longest women's match ever. The record for longest women's match in a Grand Slam in the Open Era was later beaten, however, in next year's Australian Open.
The day began with Andy Murray's defeat of American John Isner 7–6(4), 6–3, 6–2. They were followed by defending champion Rafael Nadal and Ivo Karlović, where Nadal prevailed in four sets 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4. Marin Čilić defeated defending US Open Champion Juan Martín del Potro 5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 5–7, 6–3 to advance to the quarterfinals. The last match of the day saw Andy Roddick defeat Fernando González 6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–2.
In the first Quarterfinal match of the men's side saw Marin Čilić taking on Andy Roddick. In the first set the two players exchange break at 5–5 to go to a tie-break which Čilić won. After the first set Roddick received a medical treatment to his neck. In the second set Čilić broke at 3–2 to lead 4–2 after Roddick received a medical treatment once again and then Čilić closed it out 6–3. In the third set Roddick broke in the second game and close it out 6–3 in the third. Roddick then led 4–0 in the fourth with two breaks and closed it out 6–2 to go to a decider. In the fifth set Roddick had three break opportunities in the first game but was not able to convert. Čilić then broke at the fourth game and close the match out 6–3 in the decider. The second quarterfinal was between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray In the first set Nadal broke early to lead 2–1 but Murray broke back immediately to bring it to 2–2. Murray then won the next three games to lead 5–2 and then close it out 6–3 in the first. In the second set Nadal led 4–2 with a break but Murray once again broke back immediately to 4–3 and then it stayed on serve to go to a tie-break which Murray won 7–2. In the third set Murray led 3–0 when Nadal retired due to Knee Injury.
In the first Quarterfinal match of the women's side saw Justine Henin and Nadia Petrova. In the first set Henin broke to lead 3–2 but Petrova broke back at the eighth game to put it 4–4. Henin then served for the set at 5–4 but was broken back then it went to a tie-break, which Henin won 7–3. In the second set Petrova led 3–0 with two service break but let Henin back in as Henin broke back to lead 4–3. They then stayed on serve until the 12th game where Henin broke the Petrova serve to win the set 7–5 and the match. The match was followed by an encounter between Maria Kirilenko and Zheng Jie. The first set went lopsided as Zheng won five straight games after 1–1 to take the set 6–1. Kirilenko then received treatment for her leg after the first set. In the second set Zheng broke immediately in the first game to lead 1–0 and then stayed on serve to 5–3. At the 10th game Kirilenko double faulted at match point to give Zheng the match 6–1 6–3.
Day 10 of the Men's side saw world number one Roger Federer taking on Nikolay Davydenko. The first set went the Russian's way as he broke the Federer serve at the third and fifth game and won the set 6–2. He then made a 3–1 leverage and had break point for 4–1 but failed as Federer held for 2–3. From then on Davydenko's unforced errors rose greatly. Federer took advantage and won 13 straight games to take the second set 6–3 and the third 6–0. At 2–1 in the fourth, Davydenko went back to 3–3 but lost serve to go down 5–6 and Federer closed it out to take the set 7–5 and the match. The last Quarterfinal of the day featured 2008 Australian Open finalists Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In the first set both players broke each other for 2–1 Djokovic. Djokovic then broke in the sixth game and serve for the set at 5–3 but Tsonga crawled back in to push it to a tie-break, which he won 10–8. In the second Djokovic broke in the first game but gave it right back as he was broken in the eighth game, they then went again to tie-break which Djokovic won 7–5. the third set was dominated by Djokovic winning it 6–1 even though he looked like he was struggling. Tsonga then took advantage of his wounded opponent as he convincingly won the next two set 6–3 6–1 to have a clash with Federer in the semifinals.
The second Quarterfinal day of the Women' side saw Venus Williams taking on Li Na first. The first set saw Venus take the first four games, However Li got one of the breaks back to go 2–4. Venus then took the next two games to take the set 6–2. In the second set Venus took command as she led 2–0. Then both players traded break 4–2 Venus. Venus the served for the match at 5–4 but Li broke back to 5–5 then it went to a tie-break which Li won 7–4. Venus then took the first game and then six successive breaks happened to push it to 4–3 Venus. Li then held serve after saving break point to go four all. At that point three successive breaks then transpired as Li served it out to win the set 7–5 and the match to join compatriot Zheng Jie in the Semifinals. The next match saw defending champion Serena Williams taking on Victoria Azarenka. In the first set Serena suffered her first broken service game of the tournament as she was broken in the first game. Both then held serve after cancelling break point to go 2–1 Azarenka. Serena then broke back to level it at 2–2. Azarenka then took the next three games to take a commanding 5–2 lead breaking Serena twice more. Serena then fought back getting one of the break back to go 4–5 down, but Azarenka was able to take the set 6–4. In the second set Azarenka took a commanding 4–0 lead. Azarenka appeared to be in cruise control for advancing to the semifinals, but Serena muscled her way back to take five straight games, to take the lead 5–4. And then it went to a tie-break, which Serena won 7–4. Azarenka then held serve to 1–0 but Serena then took the next five games to lead 5–1 and closed it out 6–2 to meet Li in the semifinals.
In the men's action Andy Murray took on Marin Čilić. In the first set saw Čilić taking the first break as he broke in the fifth game. He then took a 5–3 lead and broke the Murray serve to win the set 6–3. In the second set Murray broke the Čilić serve at the fifth game and stayed on serve to win the set 6–4. In the third set Murray won the only break of the set at the seventh game and closed it out 6–4 to take a 2–1 lead. In the fourth set it was 1–1 until Murray won four straight games and closed out the match by winning the fourth set 6–2 to advance to his second Grand Slam final.
The Women's singles semifinals saw Chinese players Li Na and Zheng Jie taking defending champion Serena Williams and Justine Henin respectively. First on court was world number one and defending champion Serena Williams taking on Li Na, with Li just having beaten Venus Williams. In the first set, Serena broke at the first game to take a 1–0 lead. From then on it stayed on serve, however Serena was not able to close it out at 5–4 as Li broke to level it to 5–5. It then head into a tie-break, which Serena won 7–4, with a second serve ace. The second set recorded no breaks of serve as both players faced break points. It then went to a tie-break. Serena then won the tie-break 7–1 with once again an ace. In the second semi-finals were two unseeded players clashed as Justine Henin took on Zheng Jie. This match was lopsided from 1–1 as Henin took 11 straight games to win the match 6–1 6–0 to advance to her second straight final.
Roger Federer won in the match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 finalist, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2. This marks the fifth time Federer made the final at the Australian Open.[13]
Serena and Venus Williams won in the final against Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6–4, 6–3. The Australian Open women's doubles title in 2010 gives them back-to-back championships, and four overall in doubles at this slam. This was the eleventh women's Grand Slam doubles title of their careers.[14]
World Number One and defending champion Serena Williams and wildcard entrant Justine Henin met in the first grand slam final played between the two, with Serena leading their head-to-head 7–6. Both players then held serve for 2–1 with Serena saving three break points in two games. Serena then broke at the fourth game and held serve to take a 4–1 lead again saving break points. Henin then got the break back at the seventh game to take it to 4–4. It then stayed on serve to go 5–4 Serena, however Serena was able to break at the second opportunity to win the set 6–4. In the second set, both players traded breaks at the third and fourth game to level it 2–2. Serena then held serve to lead 3–2, and then Henin won the next four games and 10 straight points from 3–3 deuce to win the set 6–3. In the decider both players once again traded breaks at the third and fourth game to level it to 2–2. The defending champion then won the next four games and closed it out in her second championship point to win the set 6–2, which gave Serena her fifth Australian Open title. This was a record breaking fifth Australian Open title for Serena, which broke the tie she shared with Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles who all won four Australian Open titles in the Open Era. In addition, this title increased her slam total to 12, which tied the overall fifth place mark by Billie Jean King and Suzanne Lenglen, which makes Serena the fourth most decorated grand slam champion in the open era of women's tennis. Serena was the first woman to win back-to-back titles since Jennifer Capriati did so back in 2001–02.
[15][16][17][18][19][20]
India's Leander Paes and Zimbabwe's Cara Black won the mixed doubles title against the pair of Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and the Czech Republic's Jaroslav Levinský in straight sets 7–5, 6–3. This was Paes's 11th doubles Grand Slam title, and the pair's second together after the 2008 US Open.[22]
In the men's final, Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win his 16th Grand Slam title and increase his own record.[23] It was also his fourth Australian Open title, which tied him with Andre Agassi in most titles won in the Open Era.[24] Federer took the first and second sets with one break in each. In the third set, Federer fought back from 2–5 down to send the set into a tiebreaker.[25] He went on to defeat Murray in a protracted third-set tiebreaker 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(11).[23][24][26]
^"Hit for Haiti raises $400,000". Women Who Serve. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 31 January 2010.. The $400,000 figure was also mentioned during the Australian Open broadcast the next day.