10 shortest Australian Open finals

The Australian Open is renowned for its scorching summer conditions and has witnessed some of the most electrifying finals in both the ATP and WTA categories. As we delve into the archives, we uncover the 10 shortest Australian Open finals—five from the men’s and five from the women’s competitions.

These concise yet impactful clashes not only showcase the players’ mastery in swiftly claiming victory but also offer a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of championship moments captured in the blink of a tennis match.

Women’s shortest Australian Open finals

Contents

• 1 Women’s shortest Australian Open finals
• 2 Men’s shortest Australian Open finals
• 3 Pre-Open era shortest Australian Open finals

Embarking on a journey through the annals of Women’s Australian Open history, we uncover a distinctive facet of the tournament—matches that defied the conventional pace and etched their stories in the brevity of time.

On her way to the 2021 crown, Ashleigh Barty dismissed Danka Kovinic in 44 minutes. However, her final win over Daniele Collins was 89 minutes long, not enough to merit a place on this list. Join us as we unravel the narratives of these concise clashes, where each serves, volley, and point carries the weight of a championship moment.

• 1985: Martina Navratilova vs. Chris Evert – 71 minutes
• 1991: Monica Seles vs. Jana Novotna – 71 minutes
• 1975: Evonne Goolagong Cawley vs. Martina Navratilova – 78 minutes
• 2017: Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams – 82 minutes
• 1983: Martina Navratilova vs. Kathy Jordan – 83 minutes

From Ashleigh Barty’s lightning-quick triumph in 2021 to the iconic duels of legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, these matches stand as testaments to the swift yet impactful nature of tennis on the Melbourne courts.

Men’s shortest Australian Open finals

On the men’s side, the story is similar. The Australian Open has witnessed some of the most electrifying tennis showdowns, but among its rich tapestry of finals, some stand out for their brevity.

Despite this, these short Australian Open final affairs have left an indelible mark on the tournament’s history, leading many to wonder, what if. Understandably, Djokovic is on the list but the presence of Rafael Nadal and that too on the wrong side of results makes it all the more interesting.

Let’s delve into the brief yet impactful narratives of the Men’s Shortest Australian Open Finals.

• 2021: Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev – 114 minutes.
• 1988: Mats Wilander vs. Pat Cash – 127 minutes.
• 1998: Petr Korda vs. Marcelo Rios – 138 minutes.
• 2019: Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal – 124 minutes.
• 2014: Stan Wawrinka vs. Rafael Nadal – 141 minutes.

Pre-Open era shortest Australian Open finals

Long before the Open Era brought a new dimension to professional tennis, the Australian Open hosted a series of finals that were remarkably succinct. While the precise durations of these matches may be challenging to verify with the same precision as contemporary events, historical records suggest a trend of shorter finals, where the battles on the courts were swift yet left an enduring impact on the tournament’s legacy.

Although the exact minutes might remain elusive, the historical anecdotes and records attest to the brevity of these encounters. In the absence of the stringent timing measures employed in modern tournaments, these pre-Open era matches offer a glimpse into an era where tennis was played with a raw, unbridled intensity, and the outcomes were often determined rapidly.

• 1922: James Anderson vs. Gerald Patterson – 52 minutes.
• 1937: Vivian McGrath vs. John Bromwich – 53 minutes.
• 1928: Jean Borotra vs. Jack Cummings – 55 minutes.
• 1911: Norman Brookes vs. Horace Rice – 55 minutes.
• 1933: Jack Crawford vs. Keith Gledhill – 56 minutes.