The Australian Open

Considered by many to be the best tennis player of all time Roger Federer has been made Champion at each Grand Slam tournament. In 2009 Federer won the Wimbledon final taking his Grand Slam winning tally to 15, one more than previous Grand Slam record holder Pete Sampras. His first Grand Slam win was in 2003 when he defeated Mark Philippoussis to become the Wimbledon Champion.

Serbian Novak Djokovic won his first Grand Slam tournament here in Melbourne at his fourth Australian Open in 2008. He beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final after beating defending champion Roger Federer in the semi.

British player Andy Murray appeared in his first Australian Open in 2006, a year after turning pro, and lost in the first round. In 2008 he reached his first Grand Slam final, the second British player since Greg Rusedski (1997) to do so, but lost the US Open to Roger Federer.

American Andy Roddick won his first Grand Slam final in 2003 beating Juan Carlos Ferrero to become the US Open champion. In 2009, Andy Roddick made it to his third Wimbledon final where he faced Roger Federer. After the longest men’s singles final in Grand Slam history with 77 games played, Roddick lost, but the match has gone down in Wimbledon history.

The Spanish Fernando Verdasco made his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2003, not making it past the first round. In 2009, after reaching the semi-final of the Australian Open he lost to fellow countryman Nadal in the longest match in the tournaments history.

Fernando Gonzalez first played in a Grand Slam tournament in 2000 at the US Open, where he made it through to the second round. The Chilean appeared in his first Grand Slam final in 2007, eight years after turning pro. However, he lost out to Roger Federer, who became the Australian Open champion for 2007.

The Australian Open in 2005 was when Gael Monfils first appeared in a Grand Slam tournament, making it to the second round. In the year after turning pro, the Frenchman made it to the third round of Wimbledon losing out to Mario Ancic.

Gilles Simon’s first appearance at the Australian Open was in 2006 where he made it to the third round, losing to Thomas Johansson. Three years later, in 2009, the Frenchman made it to the Quarter Final where he lost to Nadal, the eventual Champion.

David Ferrer hit the Grand Slam circuit three years after turning pro at the Australian Open in 2003. He lost in the first round, but followed the year up with debuts in the other three Grand Slam tournaments. In 2007, the Spaniard made it to his first Grand Slam semi final in the US Open, but lost to Novak Djokovic.

Russian talent Mikhail Youzhny first played in the Australian Open in 2001 where he made it through to the third round. In 2008 he made a vast improvement to his record at the tournament when he made it through to the Quarter Final, but lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

In 2005 Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka played in his first Grand Slam tournament, the French Open, and made it through to the third round. He first appeared in the Australian Open in 2006, losing in the second round to David Nalbandian.

Spanish player Juan Carlos Ferrero first played in Melbourne at the Australian Open in 2000 where he made it to the third round. His first Grand Slam win came in 2003 where he beat Martin Verkerk to become French Open Champion.

American player Sam Querrey first made an appearance at the Australian Open in 2007 where he lost in the third round to Tommy Robredo. After turning pro in 2006, he made his debut Grand Slam appearance US Open making it through to the second round.

American Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam tournament in 1999 at the US Open after defeating Martina Hingis. She has since been a Champion at each Grand Slam tournament. The first time she won the Australian Open was in 2003 after beating her sister, Venus Williams. She has also won each Grand Slam tournament in the doubles competition.

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova first hit the Grand Slam stage in 2002 at the Australian Open and made it through to the second round. Her first Grand Slam tournament win was two years later at the US Open after defeating Elena Dementieva.

Russian talent Elena Dementieva made her debut performance at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 1999 at the age of 18. She reached her first final in a Grand Slam in 2004 at the French Open losing the Championship to Anastasia Myskina.

From Belarus is Victoria Azarenka who first appeared at the Australian Open in 2006 not making it past the first round. She qualified for her first Grand Slam Quarter Final in 2009 but lost out to Dinara Safina, the runner up of the tournament.

Russian player Vera Zvonareva first appeared on the Grand Slam circuit in 2002 at the French Open and made it through to the fourth round where she lost to eventual Champion Serena Williams. A year later she made her debut at the Australian Open but did not make it past the first round. However, in 2009 she made it to the Semi Final of the tournament losing to Safina.

French Marion Bartoli’s first appearance at a Grand Slam tournament was in 2001, a year after turning pro, at the French Open not proceeding past the first round. In 2007, Bartoli made it to her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, but lost the title to Venus Williams.

Samantha Stosur played in her first Australian Open in 2002, three years after turning pro, but did not make it past the first round. In 2009, the Australian made it to her first semi final in a Grand Slam tournament at the French Open, but lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova, the eventual winner.

Kim Clijsters played in her first Australian Open in 2000 but did not pass the first round. However in 2004 she made it to her first final of the tournament losing the championship to fellow Belgian Justine Henin. In 2005 Klijsters won her first Grand Slam competition beating Mary Pierce to become the US Open Champion.

In 2005 Na Li played her first Grand Slam tournament making it through to the third round of the Australian Open. In 2006 the Chinese national qualified for her first Quarter Final in a Grand Slam competition at Wimbledon where she lost out to Kim Clijsters.

French Virginie Razzano played in her first Australian Open in 2000, a year after turning pro, although she did not make it through the first round. Her first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament was in 1999 where she played in the French Open.

Ana Ivanovic made her debut at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2005, two years after turning pro. The Serbian made it to her first Grand Slam final in 2007 at the French Open, but lost the Championship to Justine Henin. Only a year later, back at the French Open, Ivanovic won her first Grand Slam title beating Dinara Safina.

Daniela Hantuchova made her first appearance at all Grand Slam tournaments in 2001. The Slovakian made it to her first Quarter Final in a Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon a year later losing to eventual winner Serena Williams. In 2008, Hantuchova qualified for the Semi Finals of the Australian Open, but lost her final spot to Ana Ivanovic.

Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez made her debut performance in all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2001, five years after turning pro, and did not pass the first round in any of the competitions. In 2009, Martinez Sanchez made it to the third round of the Australian Open, having not passed the first round in previous years, but lost to fellow Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro.