The 2006 Australian Open was played between 16 and 29 January 2006.
Marat Safin could not defend his 2005 title, due to an injury he suffered in late 2005. Roger Federer won his second Australian Open title, defeating Marcos Baghdatis in the final in four sets. Serena Williams was unsuccessful in defending her 2005 title, losing in the third round against Daniela Hantuchová. Amélie Mauresmo won her first Australian Open title, defeating 2004 champion Justine Henin in the final; Henin-Hardenne was forced to retire at 1–6, 0–2 down due to a stomach virus. It began Henin-Hardenne's run of reaching the final of all four Grand Slam events, winning the French Open.
Leadup
Several leading men's players declined to attend the Open due to injury, including Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and defending champion Marat Safin. The women's tournament had no absentees among the top 20 ranked players.
It was Martina Hingis' first grand slam event in her comeback to the game. Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams were among those who welcomed her return to the circuit as a positive step forward for women's tennis.
Finals
Seniors
Men's singles
Roger Federer defeated Marcos Baghdatis,[1] 5–7, 7–5, 6–0, 6–2
- It was Federer's 2nd title of the year, and his 35th overall. It was his 7th career Grand Slam title, and his 2nd Australian Open title.
Women's singles
Amélie Mauresmo defeated Justine Henin, 6–1, 2–0, retired
- It was Mauresmo's 1st title of the year, and her 20th overall. It was her 1st career Grand Slam title.
Men's doubles
Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan defeated Martin Damm / Leander Paes, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Women's doubles
Yan Zi / Zheng Jie[2] defeated Samantha Stosur / Lisa Raymond, 2–6, 7–6(7), 6–3
Mixed doubles
Martina Hingis / Mahesh Bhupathi defeated Elena Likhovtseva / Daniel Nestor, 6–3, 6–3
Juniors
Boys' singles
Alexandre Sidorenko defeated Nick Lindahl, 6–3, 7–6(4)
Girls' singles
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Caroline Wozniacki,[Note 1] 1–6, 6–2, 6–3
Boys' doubles
Błażej Koniusz / Grzegorz Panfil defeated Kellen Damico / Nathaniel Schnugg, 7–6(5), 6–3
Girls' doubles
Sharon Fichman / Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Alizé Cornet / Corinna Dentoni, 6–2, 6–2
Legends
Men's doubles
- John Fitzgerald / Todd Woodbridge defeated Pat Cash / Peter McNamara, 6–3, 6–3,[3]
Mixed doubles
- Phil Dent / Dianne Balestrat defeated Tony Roche / Liz Smylie, 6–1, 6–1
Wheelchair
Men's singles
Michaël Jérémiasz defeated Satoshi Saida, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Women's singles
Esther Vergeer defeated Jiske Griffioen, 6–4, 6–0
Men's doubles
Robin Ammerlaan / Martin Legner defeated Michaël Jérémiasz / Satoshi Saida, 3–6, 6–3 7–6(5)
Women's doubles
Jiske Griffioen / Esther Vergeer defeated Yuka Chokyu / Mie Yaosa, 6–2, 6–0
Seeds
Men's singles
Women's singles
Attendance
| Day | Day Session | Night Session | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36,890 | 12,855 | 49,745 |
| 2 | 42,533 | 15,300 | 57,833 |
| 3 | 40,291 | 16,391 | 56,682 |
| 4 | 37,668 | 17,728 | 55,396 |
| 5 | 32,664 | 15,454 | 48,118 |
| 6 | 41,247 | 15,439 | 56,686 |
| 7 | 22,679 | 14,958 | 37,637 |
| 8 | 25,350 | 15,033 | 40,383 |
| 9 | 19,385 | 15,115 | 34,500 |
| 10 | 17,570 | 14,542 | 32,112 |
| 11 | 15,954 | 14,943 | 30,897 |
| 12 | 16,303 | – | 16,303 |
| 13 | 15,452 | – | 15,452 |
| 14 | 18,806 | – | 18,806 |
| Total | 382,792 | 167,758 | 550,550 |
Withdrawals
- Men's Singles
- Andre Agassi → replaced by Fernando Vicente
- Karol Beck → replaced by Ricardo Mello
- Guillermo Cañas → replaced by Potito Starace
- Joachim Johansson → replaced by Juan Antonio Marín
- Nicolás Lapentti → replaced by Justin Gimelstob
- Alberto Martín → replaced by Federico Luzzi
- Rafael Nadal → replaced by Nicolás Almagro
- Jiří Novák → replaced by Raemon Sluiter
- Mariano Puerta → replaced by Jean-René Lisnard
- Greg Rusedski → replaced by Óscar Hernández
- Marat Safin → replaced by Alexander Waske
- Robin Söderling → replaced by Lee Hyung-taik
- Martin Verkerk → replaced by Răzvan Sabău
- Women's Singles
- Elena Bovina → replaced by Shenay Perry
- Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro → replaced by Galina Voskoboeva
- Sesil Karatantcheva → replaced by Yuliana Fedak
- Magdalena Maleeva → replaced by Martina Müller
- Conchita Martínez → replaced by Saori Obata
- Květa Peschke → replaced by Camille Pin
- Fabiola Zuluaga → replaced by Conchita Martínez Granados
References
- ^ Baghdatis became the first Cypriot tennis player (male or female) to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
- ^ Yan and Zheng won the first ever Chinese Grand Slam title.
- ^ Pye, John (27 January 2006). "Federer favored; Baghdatis believing". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C07.
- ^ [1] Archived 5 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Pearce, Linda (17 January 2006). "Dokic leaves shattered but philosophical". The Age
Notes
- ^ Wozniacki