In preparation for another exciting Australian Open 2026 finals’ weekend, we took a quick trip down memory lane and collated ten of the best singles finals at Melbourne Park, which has played host to the calendar year’s first Grand Slam since 1988.
2023 women’s final: Aryna Sabalenka d. Elena Rybakina
In an unforgettable battle between two of the heaviest ball-strikers on the women’s tour, Sabalenka triumphed 4-6 6-3 6-4 to lift her maiden major.
Unleashing on her groundstrokes and serve, the then 24-year-old amassed 51 winners to Rybakina’s 31 in a match of the highest quality.
The best finals are built on tension, and Rybakina saved three match points before eventually sending a forehand long to hand victory to Sabalenka, who later described that Saturday as the best day of her life.
“I wanted to say a big thank you for this atmosphere," Rybakina, the tournament’s 22nd seed, told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena, who had been captivated by the two hours and 28 minute-minute long battle.
“I had goosebumps.”
2020 men’s final: Novak Djokovic d. Dominic Thiem
The Serbian star claimed an unprecedented eighth AO title with a gripping 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 win over Austria’s Thiem.
By collecting major number 17, Djokovic also became the first man in the Open era to win majors across three consecutive decades.
“You were very close to winning,” he told his Austrian rival, who was bidding to become the first player to break the Big Three’s stranglehold on majors since Marin Cilic at the 2014 US Open.
Thiem, graciously swallowing his third consecutive Grand Slam final defeat, congratulated Djokovic on “an unreal achievement.” “I’m proud and happy I can compete in this time and period of tennis.”
2017 men’s final: Roger Federer d. Rafael Nadal
In the most anticipated match between a 17th seed and a ninth seed in history, the improbable finalists left it all on the line in this three hour and 38-minute classic.
Federer, returning from being sidelined with a knee injury for six months, trailed his great rival 1-3 in the fifth set before storming back to triumph 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3.
It marked the Swiss star’s first victory over Nadal at a major since Wimbledon 2007 and first Grand Slam title in four-and-a-half years.
“Tennis is a tough sport, there’s no draws,” said Federer. “But if there was going to be one, I would have been very happy to accept a draw tonight and share it with Rafa. Really.”
2012 men’s final: Novak Djokovic d. Rafael Nadal
Five-set matches are often described as marathons, and this titanic clash rewrote history.
Djokovic and Nadal, ranked No.1 and No.2, duelled for five hours and 53 electrifying minutes, setting a record for the longest Grand Slam final ever.
At 1:37am, Djokovic struck an inside-out forehand winner to prevail 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 and celebrated his third AO title with a roar and by ripping off his shirt. Both players, depleted from the gladiatorial battle, gratefully sat when offered chairs during the trophy ceremony.
"It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies," Djokovic said.
2011 women’s final: Kim Clijsters d. Li Na
The popular Belgian mounted a stunning 3-6 6-3 6-3 comeback to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for the first time. The then 27-year-old had tears of happiness in her eyes as soon as she clinched match point.
“I finally feel like you guys can call me ‘Aussie Kim’,” said Clijsters after the two hour and five-minute encounter which earned her the fourth major title of her career, and first outside the US Open.
By denying Li the chance to become the first Asian singles champion of the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific, she became the first mother to win the title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1977.
2010 women’s final: Serena Williams d. Justine Henin
At AO 2010, an elated Williams prevailed 6-4 3-6 6-2 over her Belgian rival to earn her fifth singles title at Melbourne Park and 12th major overall.
Henin went down fighting for an entirely different outcome: a fairytale ending to her comeback from an 18-month retirement and an eighth major and first since 2007.
The high-stakes match, which spanned two hours and seven minutes, was the first women’s Grand Slam singles final to be decided by a third set since Wimbledon 2006.
“As you saw today, she took me to the umpteenth level,” the then 28-year-old Williams said.
2009 men’s final: Rafael Nadal d. Roger Federer
Six months on from the unforgettable 2008 Wimbledon final, Nadal became the first Spaniard to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
In his seventh Grand Slam final against Federer, the then-22-year-old saved 13 of 19 break points as he overcame his Swiss rival 7-5 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2. The feat earned Nadal his first hardcourt Grand Slam title and sixth overall.
“God, it's killing me,” said a tearful Federer, who was comforted by Nadal.
“Just remember you're a great champion and you're one of the best in history and for sure you're going to match Sampras,” said the gracious top seed after denying his rival a chance on the day to match Pete Sampras’ record of 14 majors.
2002 women’s final: Jennifer Capriati d. Martina Hingis
On a sweltering Melbourne day, a 25-year-old Capriati trailed by a set and 4-0 before staging one of the most heroic comebacks in major history to win 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2.
She became the first woman to save four match points before prevailing in a Grand Slam final – a record she holds to this day.
Adding to the drama, Hingis, then aged 21, suffered from leg cramps in the decisive set.
“I really don’t know how I managed to win,” a disbelieving Capriati said. “I got my second wind, third wind, fourth wind, I don’t know how many winds out there.”
1993 women’s final: Monica Seles d. Steffi Graf
In a much-hyped battle between the tournament’s two top seeds, Seles, the two-time defending champion, prevailed 4-6 6-3 6-2 over her longtime rival to clinch her eighth major.
In the previous season, they’d clashed in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals, winning one apiece and intriguingly, they’d collectively won the first five Australian Opens staged at Melbourne Park without facing each other.
For Seles, who had earned five of her seven majors prior to AO 1993 without facing the German, the victory was somewhat of a statement.
“She really deserved to win today,” said Graf.
1988 men’s final: Mats Wilander d. Pat Cash
In the first edition of the AO at Melbourne Park, the Swedish third seed defeated Cash, the reigning Wimbledon champion, in a 6-3 6-7(3) 3-6 6-1 8-6 thriller to lift his third AO title and fifth major.
“It was very exciting to have this brand new facility with a closing roof, that was phenomenal,” Cash, a master of the serve-and-volley, later recalled.
“We were playing great tennis, it was really exciting stuff and it was nip and tuck the whole way. I just couldn’t quite get ahead of Mats on Mats’ serve, he served really well in the fifth set and I just couldn’t break him.
"It was one of those occasions where you walk off the court and go ‘you know what, I played really well’. I lost, barely, to this guy.”