The 2008 Australian Open described in detail, in the form of day-by-day summaries.
All dates are AEDT (UTC+11)
Day 1 (14 January)
Day 1 saw few upsets, as favourites Justine Henin, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Tatiana Golovin, Maria Sharapova, Shahar Pe'er, Amélie Mauresmo, Nicole Vaidišová, Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Nikolay Davydenko, Richard Gasquet, and Mikhail Youzhny all advanced. Jelena Janković, world No. 3, also advanced but was heavily tested by Tamira Paszek, having to win 2–6, 6–2, 12–10 in three hours, saving three match points; the match featured an exceptional 15 breaks of serve. Retrieved 24 February 2008 Finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga scored his best victory to that point in a four set win over number 9 seed Andy Murray, 7–5, 6–4, 0–6, 7–6. Home favourite Alicia Molik also advanced into the second round. Seeds out: Men's singles: Andy Murray , Carlos Moyá , Juan Ignacio Chela Women's singles: Vera Zvonareva , Julia Vakulenko
Matches on main courtsMatches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 1st round Serena Williams Jarmila Gajdošová [WC] 6–3, 6–3 Women's singles 1st round Justine Henin Aiko Nakamura 6–2, 6–2 Men's singles 1st round Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Andy Murray 7–5, 6–4, 0–6, 7–6(7–5) Women's singles 1st round Alicia Molik Kaia Kanepi 7–6(7–4), 7–5 Men's singles 1st round Rafael Nadal Viktor Troicki [Q] 7–6(7–3), 7–5, 6–1Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 1st round Jelena Janković Tamira Paszek 2–6, 6–2, 12–10 Men's singles 1st round Andy Roddick Lukáš Dlouhý [Q] 6–3, 6–4, 7–5 Women's singles 1st round Maria Sharapova Jelena Kostanić Tošić 6–4, 6–3 Men's singles 1st round Richard Gasquet Nick Lindahl [WC] 6–0, 6–1, 3–6, 6–2Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Men's singles 1st round Paul Capdeville Brydan Klein 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 Women's singles 1st round Lindsay Davenport [PR] Sara Errani 6–2, 3–6, 7–5 Men's singles 1st round Nikolay Davydenko Michaël Llodra 7–5, 7–5, 6–3 Men's singles 1st round Stefan Koubek Carlos Moyá 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 7–5, 6–4Colored background means night matches
Day 2 (15 January) Favourites Roger Federer, Tomáš Berdych, James Blake, Novak Djokovic, Fernando González, Lleyton Hewitt, Marcos Baghdatis, David Nalbandian, David Ferrer, Marat Safin, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Anna Chakvetadze, Daniela Hantuchová, and Svetlana Kuznetsova all advanced. Other seeded players such as Li Na, Nadia Petrova, Sania Mirza, Agnieszka Radwańska, Dmitry Tursunov, and Juan Carlos Ferrero also advanced. Sofia Arvidsson caused the upset on the women's side, as she defeated No. 10 Marion Bartoli 6–7, 6–4, 6–3, and Dinara Safina went down to qualifier Sabine Lisicki. On the men's side, the upset of the day came when Dutch qualifier Robin Haase defeated No. 17 Ivan Ljubičić 6–7, 6–3, 6–0, 7–6. Day 2 saw the completion of all the remaining first round matches. Seeded players out: Marion Bartoli, Dinara Safina, Ágnes Szávay, Lucie Šafářová; Ivan Ljubičić, Nicolás Almagro, Radek Štěpánek
Matches on main courtsMatches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Men's singles 1st round Novak Djokovic Benjamin Becker 6–0, 6–2, 7–6(7–5) Women's singles 1st round Svetlana Kuznetsova Nathalie Dechy 6–3, 6–1 Men's singles 1st round Lleyton Hewitt Steve Darcis 6–0, 6–3, 6–0 Women's singles 1st round Venus Williams Yan Zi 6–2, 7–5 Men's singles 1st round Roger Federer Diego Hartfield 6–0, 6–3, 6–0Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 1st round Anna Chakvetadze Andrea Petkovic 0–0, retired Men's singles 1st round Marcos Baghdatis Thomas Johansson 7–6(7–0), 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 Women's singles 1st round Ana Ivanovic Sorana Cîrstea 7–5, 6–3 Men's singles 1st round James Blake Nicolás Massú 6–3, 6–2, 6–2Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 1st round Daniela Hantuchová Vania King 6–3, 7–5 Men's singles 1st round Lee Hyung-taik Chris Guccione 7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–4 Men's singles 1st round Peter Luczak Mariano Zabaleta 6–1, 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 6–4 Men's singles 1st round Fernando González Konstantinos Economidis [Q] 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 7–5, 6–4Colored background means night matches
Day 3 (16 January) The Australian crowd were treated to an upset from one of their own as Casey Dellacqua sent No. 15 seed Patty Schnyder crashing out in the women's draw, while No. 13 Tatiana Golovin and No. 19 Sybille Bammer also struggled, losing to Aravane Rezaï and Hsieh Su-wei respectively. Maria Sharapova defeated comeback queen Lindsay Davenport in somewhat easy fashion 6–1, 6–3,Australian Open Day 3 – Sharapova powers past Davenport ITF website and Justine Henin, Serena Williams, and Jelena Janković also advanced with wins. Joining them were numerous lower seeds including Elena Dementieva, Nicole Vaidišová and Amélie Mauresmo. In the men's draw, Mardy Fish dominated No. 11 seed Tommy Robredo to send him crashing out 6–1, 6–2, 6–3, while Stanislas Wawrinka retired against Marc Gicquel down two sets to one. Rafael Nadal, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and Richard Gasquet all progressed in straight sets, whilst Mikhail Youzhny was tested before eventually winning 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 7–6. The doubles competition also began on Day 3. Seeded players out: Tatiana Golovin, Patty Schnyder, Sybille Bammer; Tommy Robredo, Stanislas Wawrinka Doubles seeds out: Maria Elena Camerin / Gisela Dulko
Matches on main courtsMatches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 2nd round Justine Henin Olga Puchkova 6–1, 7–5 Men's singles 2nd round Rafael Nadal Florent Serra 6–0, 6–2, 6–2 Women's singles 2nd round Nicole Vaidišová Alicia Molik 6–2, 6–3 Women's singles 2nd round Maria Sharapova Lindsay Davenport [PR] 6–1, 6–3 Men's singles 2nd round Andy Roddick Michael Berrer 6–2, 6–2, 6–4Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 2nd round Casey Dellacqua Patty Schnyder 4–6, 7–5, 8–6 Men's singles 2nd round Mardy Fish Tommy Robredo 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 Women's singles 2nd round Serena Williams Yuan Meng 6–3, 6–1 Men's singles 2nd round Nikolay Davydenko Nicolas Mahut 6–4, 6–0, 6–3Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Men's singles 2nd round Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Sam Warburg [Q] 6–4, 7–6(7–4), 6–2 Women's singles 2nd round Amélie Mauresmo Yaroslava Shvedova 6–4, 7–6(7–5) Women's singles 2nd round Jelena Janković Edina Gallovits 6–2, 7–5 Women's singles 2nd round Shahar Pe'er Jessica Moore [WC] 6–0, 7–5 Men's singles 2nd round Richard Gasquet Feliciano López 6–2, 6–1, 6–3Colored background means night matches
Day 4 (17 January) In the pick of the second round matches, former finalist Marcos Baghdatis dispatched former champion Marat Safin in five sets; 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2. Seeds Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Fernando González, David Nalbandian, Tomáš Berdych and James Blake all came through unscathed; with Federer dropping only 3 games against Fabrice Santoro. Nineteenth seed and home favorite Lleyton Hewitt came through in typically gritty fashion, defeating Denis Istomin 7–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–1. On the women's side, Ana Ivanovic defeated Tathiana Garbin 6–0, 6–3 in the night match preceding Baghdatis vs. Safin. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze, Venus Williams, Daniela Hantuchová, Nadia Petrova and form player Li Na all navigated their way into the third round too. Seeded players out: Alona Bondarenko; Fernando Verdasco, Dmitry Tursunov Doubles seeds out: Nathalie Dechy / Dinara Safina, Lisa Raymond / Francesca Schiavone, Maria Kirilenko / Ágnes Szávay, Vania King / Nicole Pratt; Max Mirnyi / Jamie Murray, Simon Aspelin / Julian Knowle, Marcelo Melo / André Sá
Matches on main courtsMatches on Rod Laver Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 2nd round Svetlana Kuznetsova Tsvetana Pironkova 7–6(7–0), 6–2 Men's singles 2nd round Roger Federer Fabrice Santoro 6–1, 6–2, 6–0 Men's singles 2nd round Lleyton Hewitt Denis Istomin [WC] 7–6(7–5), 6–3, 7–5, 6–1 Women's singles 2nd round Ana Ivanovic Tathiana Garbin 6–0, 6–3 Men's singles 2nd round Marcos Baghdatis Marat Safin 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2Matches on Hisense Arena Event Winner Loser Score Women's singles 2nd round Venus Williams Camille Pin 7–5, 6–4 Women's singles 2nd round Daniela Hantuchová Alizé Cornet 6–2, 7–5 Men's singles 2nd round Novak Djokovic Simone Bolelli 6–1, 6–2, 6–2 Men's singles 2nd round David Nalbandian Peter Luczak 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–1Matches on Margaret Court Arena Event Winner Loser Score Men's singles 2nd round Juan Carlos Ferrero Alun Jones [WC] 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 Women's singles 2nd round Anna Chakvetadze Alisa Kleybanova [Q] 6–3, 6–4 Men's singles 2nd round David Ferrer Juan Martín del Potro 6–3, 6–4, ret. Men's singles 2nd round James Blake Michael Russell 6–3, 6–2, 6–2Colored background means night matches
The total attendance figure for Day 4 was 62,885, setting a new world record for a combined day/night attendance at a Grand Slam event. The previous record was 61,083, set during the 2007 US Open.
Day 5 (18 January) The first match of the night session on the Rod Laver Arena saw local player Casey Dellacqua, who had previously never progressed beyond the first round at the Australian Open, defeat former champion Amélie Mauresmo 3–6, 6–4, 6–4. Justine Henin struggled to get to grips with Francesca Schiavone before winning; and Nicole Vaidišová and Serena Williams set up an intriguing fourth round match, a re-match of the previous year's semi-final.
In the last match of the day, Philipp Kohlschreiber, the 29th seed of Germany, defeated the 6th seeded Andy Roddick in 232 minutes: 6–4, 3–6, 7–6, 6–7, 8–6; with the match reaching its conclusion past 02:00. Retrieved 24 February 2008 Roddick was visibly perturbed during the match, which resulted in his earliest exit at the Australian Open since 2002. During the match, Roddick called umpire Emmanuel Joseph an "idiot" and received a retrospective fine of $500 for racquet abuse. Retrieved 21 February 2008 Kohlschreiber entered the tournament in good form, having won the 2008 Heineken Open. Retrieved 21 February 2008 Rafael Nadal faced world number 33 Gilles Simon, and had to save six set points in the first set. Simon squandered the first three to unforced errors, but it was Nadal who produced two aces and a drop shot to save himself at 4–5, 0-40. Paul-Henri Mathieu, under the stewardship of Mats Wilander, Retrieved 24 February 2008 progressed after surviving a five-set thriller versus Stefan Koubek. Nikolay Davydenko, Richard Gasquet, Mikhail Youzhny, Jarkko Nieminen and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also advanced. Seeded players out: Shahar Pe'er, Amélie Mauresmo, Francesca Schiavone, Victoria Azarenka, Virginie Razzano; Andy Roddick, Ivo Karlović, Gilles Simon, Igor Andreev Doubles seeds out: Katarina Srebotnik / Ai Sugiyama