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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Emma Kemp in Melbourne

Australian stars shine to erase off-court drama and create ‘dream’ grand slam

Ash Barty of Australia waves as she holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Danielle Collins of the U.S., in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships
Ash Barty became the first local to win the Australian Open women’s singles crown in 44 years in one of the most extraordinary grand slams to date. Photograph: Andy Brownbill/AP

There were two Australian Opens in 2022. One played out at Melbourne airport, in a refugee detention hotel and on the front of activists’ T-shirts. The other took place on tennis courts, and it is by virtue of the latter’s quality that the former will not dominate the collective memory.

This tournament has been with little doubt one of the more extraordinary grand slams to date. Craig Tiley on Monday declared the 2022 Australian Open as “the best sporting event in the history of our game”.

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