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. 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.. The $400,000 figure was also mentioned during the Australian Open broadcast the next day.
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.
Men's singles play was started by Andy Roddick on the main courts as he defeated Thiemo de Bakker in straight sets 6–1, 6–4, 6–4. The fifth seed Andy Murray followed by beating qualifier Kevin Anderson 6–1, 6–1, 6–2. Fourth-seed Juan Martín del Potro took four sets to defeat American Michael Russell 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2. Australian Bernard Tomic prevailed in straight sets against qualifier Guillaume Rufin. Rafael Nadal won in his match against Peter Luczak 7–6(0), 6–1, 6–4, despite struggling in the first set. 13th-seed Radek Štěpánek lost to Ivo Karlović in a lengthy five set match, 2–6, 7–6(5), 6–4, 3–6, 6–4. Ivan Ljubičić and Fernando González made it to the next round. The match between Matthew Ebden and Gaël Monfils was suspended at 2–2(30–15).
World number 14 Maria Sharapova lost a 191-minute opening match with her former doubles partner, world number 58 Maria Kirilenko 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4. This marked the first time since 2003 that Sharapova lost in the first round of a Grand Slam. The Belgian trio of Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Yanina Wickmayer all won their matches on the first day. Seeded players Flavia Pennetta and Kateryna Bondarenko also made it through. Spanish player María José Martínez Sánchez was the first to win, scoring a double bagel over Evgeniya Rodina. The match between eighth seed Jelena Janković and Monica Niculescu was suspended.
Seeds out: Men's singles: Radek Štěpánek Women's singles: Maria Sharapova
Matches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Maria Kirilenko Maria Sharapova 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4 Women's Singles 1st Round Kim Clijsters Valérie Tétreault [Q] 6–0, 6–4 Men's Singles 1st Round Andy Murray Kevin Anderson [Q] 6–1, 6–1, 6–2 Men's Singles 1st Round Rafael Nadal Peter Luczak 7–6(0), 6–1, 6–4 Women's Singles 1st Round Alisa Kleybanova Jelena Dokic 6–1, 7–5Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Dinara Safina Magdaléna Rybáriková 6–4, 6–4 Men's Singles 1st Round Andy Roddick Thiemo de Bakker 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 Men's Singles 1st Round Juan Martín del Potro Michael Russell 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 Women's Singles 1st Round Justine Henin [WC] Kirsten Flipkens 6–4, 6–3 Women's Singles 1st Round Elena Dementieva Vera Dushevina 6–2, 6–1Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Yanina Wickmayer [Q] Alexandra Dulgheru 1–6, 7–5, 10–8 Men's Singles 1st Round Bernard Tomic [WC] Guillaume Rufin [Q] 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 Women's Singles 1st Round Jelena Janković vs. Monica Niculescu Cancelled Men's Singles 1st Round Matthew Ebden [Q] vs. Gaël Monfils 2–2, (30–15), postponedColoured background indicates a night match.
Day 2 (19 January) Roger Federer defeated Igor Andreev 4–6, 6–2, 7–6(2), 6–0. Lleyton Hewitt also advanced soundly against Ricardo Hocevar, winning 6–1, 6–2, 6–3. Third-seeded and 2008 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 7–5, 6–3, 6–2. The men's side saw many upsets, the largest of which was Robin Söderling's loss against Spaniard Marcel Granollers 5–7, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2. American John Isner won his first match as a seeded player at a grand slam in a lengthy match against Andreas Seppi 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7, 6–4. Louk Sorensen became the first Irish player to advance to the second round of a Grand Slam in defeating Lu Yen-hsun 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 6–1. Nikolay Davydenko won in straight sets and David Ferrer did not drop a single game against Frederico Gil before the Portugal native retired 6–0, 6–0, 2–0.
On the women's side, world number one Serena Williams defeated Urszula Radwańska 6–2, 6–1, and Australian Samantha 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. Seeds out: Men's Singles: Juan Carlos Ferrero, Jürgen Melzer, Sam Querrey, Tommy Robredo, Robin Söderling Women's Singles: Dominika Cibulková, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Virginie Razzano Schedule of Play
Matches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Samantha Stosur Han Xinyun 6–1, 3–6, 6–2 Women's Singles 1st Round Serena Williams Urszula Radwańska 6–2, 6–1 Men's Singles 1st Round Roger Federer Igor Andreev 4–6, 6–2, 7–6(2), 6–0 Men's Singles 1st Round Lleyton Hewitt Ricardo Hocevar [Q] 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 Women's Singles 1st Round Julie Coin Alicia Molik 3–6, 7–6(4), 6–3Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Men's Singles 1st Round Fernando Verdasco Carsten Ball 6–7(4), 7–6(1), 7–5, 6–2 Women's Singles 1st Round Jelena Janković Monica Niculescu 6–4, 6–0 Men's Singles 1st Round Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Sergiy Stakhovsky 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 Women's Singles 1st Round Venus Williams Lucie Šafářová 6–2, 6–2 Men's Singles 1st Round Novak Djokovic Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7–5, 6–3, 6–2Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Ana Ivanovic Shenay Perry 6–2, 6–3 Men's Singles 1st Round Gaël Monfils Matthew Ebden [Q] 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 Women's Singles 1st Round Casey Dellacqua [WC] Anastasiya Yakimova 6–2 3–6 6–4 Men's Singles 1st Round Marcos Baghdatis Paolo Lorenzi 6–2, 6–4, 6–4 Men's Singles 1st Round Mikhail Youzhny Richard Gasquet 6–7(9), 4–6, 7–6(2), 7–6(4), 6–4Coloured background indicates a night match.
Day 3 (20 January) In the second round, defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated Lukáš Lacko 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 and 2009 semifinalist Andy Roddick defeated Thomaz Bellucci 6–3, 6–4, 6–4. Andy Murray, Gaël Monfils, Fernando González, Stanislas Wawrinka and John Isner all followed through in straight sets, while Philipp Kohlschreiber and Ivan Ljubičić needed four sets to get through. Juan Martín del Potro survived against American James Blake 6–4, 6–7(3), 5–7, 6–3, 10–8 and Marin Čilić against Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic 6–7(6), 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4. 29th seed Victor Troicki fell to Florian Mayer and Tomáš Berdych to Evgeny Korolev.
On the women's side, Alyona Bondarenko won her match in straight sets, while her sister, Kateryna, lost in straight sets. Justine Henin defeated fifth seed Elena Dementieva 7–5, 7–6(6). Russians Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, Alisa Kleybanova, Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko all recorded straight sets victories. They were joined by Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki, and Jelena Janković. Two other seeds also fell with 25th seed María José Martínez Sánchez and 28th seed Elena Vesnina. Flavia Pennetta was defeated by Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets.
Seeds out: Men's Singles: Tomáš Berdych, Viktor Troicki Women's Singles: Kateryna Bondarenko, María José Martínez Sánchez, Flavia Pennetta, Aravane Rezaï, Elena Vesnina, Elena Dementieva Men's Doubles: Julian Knowle / Robert Lindstedt, Jaroslav Levinský / Travis Parrott, Marcelo Melo / Bruno Soares Schedule of Play
Matches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 2nd Round Svetlana Kuznetsova Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6–2, 6–2 Women's Singles 2nd Round Kim Clijsters Tamarine Tanasugarn 6–3, 6–3 Men's Singles 2nd Round Rafael Nadal Lukáš Lacko 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 Women's Singles 2nd Round Justine Henin [WC] Elena Dementieva 7–5, 7–6(6) Men's Singles 2nd Round Marin Čilić Bernard Tomic [WC] 6–7(6), 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Caroline Wozniacki Aleksandra Wozniak 6–4, 6–2 Men's Singles 2nd Round Andy Roddick Thomaz Bellucci 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 Women's Singles 2nd Round Dinara Safina Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6–3, 6–4 Men's Singles 2nd Round Juan Martín del Potro James Blake 6–4, 6–7(3), 5–7, 6–3, 10–8Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's Singles 1st Round Sofia Arvidsson [Q] Jarmila Groth [WC] 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 Women's Singles 2nd Round Yanina Wickmayer [Q] Flavia Pennetta 7–6(2), 6–1 Women's Doubles 1st Round Serena Williams Venus Williams Sophie Ferguson Jessica Moore 6–1, 6–1 Men's Singles 2nd Round Gaël Monfils Antonio Veić [Q] 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 Men's Singles 2nd Round Andy Murray Marc Gicquel 6–1, 6–4, 6–3Coloured background indicates a night match.
Day 4 (21 January) Day 4 saw world number one Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, 2009 semifinalist Fernando Verdasco, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mikhail Youzhny and Nikolay Davydenko win in straight sets. 2008 champion Novak Djokovic needed four sets to advance. Five-set matches of the day consisted of Tommy Haas' defeat of Janko Tipsarević 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3; Albert Montañés' defeat of Stéphane Robert 4–6, 6–7(3), 6–2, 6–3, 6–2; Nicolás Almagro's win over Benjamin Becker 6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 4–6, 6–3; Juan Mónaco's two-set recovery over Michaël Llodra 3–6, 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–1, 6–3; and Marcos Baghdatis' defeat of David Ferrer 4–6, 3–6, 7–6(4), 6–3, 6–1.
In the women's side the situation was the same as many seeds cruised through with Serena Williams and Venus Williams leading the way as they both won in straight sets. they were followed by Vera Zvonareva, good friends Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwańska, Slovakian Daniela Hantuchová, Francesca Schiavone, Shahar Pe'er and Carla Suárez Navarro. While Li Na survived against Ágnes Szávay in three sets. The two remaining Australian in the women's draw also won in straight sets as Samantha Stosur defeated Kristina Barrois 7–5, 6–3 and Wildcard Casey Dellacqua outlasting Karolina Šprem 7–6(4), 7–6(6). However two seeds fell as Sabine Lisicki fell in three to Alberta Brianti and former number one Ana Ivanovic also fell in three to Argentine Gisela Dulko 6–7(6), 7–5, 6–4 in an error filled match.
Seeds out: Men's Singles: David Ferrer Women's Singles: Ana Ivanovic, Sabine Lisicki