Diehard sports fans are once again looking forward to an awesome tennis season in 2013, riding high after the spectacular wins for Andy Murray last year.
Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia – 14 – 27 January 2013
Marking the start of the 2013 tennis season the first major event of the year takes place during the intense heat of the Australian summer over two weeks from January 14th to the 27th; soaring temperatures have in the past forced play to be moved indoors with brutal temperatures of 44C or 111F previously recorded. Play takes place at the Melbourne Tennis Centre in the city of Melbourne on Australia’s southern coast with play divided between day and night sessions.
In the men’s draw spectators will be hoping to witness another epic battle between the top four players in the world; defending champion Serbian Novak Djokovic will have to fight off the challenge of British Olympic champion Andy Murray and Swiss legend Roger Federer to retain his title. The return of Spain’s Rafael Nadal from injury is also eagerly anticipated. On the women’s side Maria Sharapova will try to go one better than last year when she lost in the final to Victoria Azerenka.
Facts
- Since 2008 the playing surface has been plexicushion
- Attendance is expected to exceed 2012’s record 686,006 spectators
- The final was epic; Novak Djokovic eventually beat Rafael Nadal in what became the longest Grand Slam final in the Open, retaining his title
- The 2012 match makes this the third Australian Open win for Djokovic who won in 2008, 2011, 2012
- In 2012 Victoria Azarenka from Belarus won her first ever Australian Open title
French Open, Paris, France – 26 May – 9 June 2013
Taking place in one of the world’s great cities, the Roland Garros Tournament or French Open takes place at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. Beginning of May 26th 2013 the 112th tournament sees the slow moving red clay courts of the tournament close the clay court tennis season in one of the world’s most stylish cities.
Having hopefully returned from injury Spain’s Rafael Nadal will be searching for a record eighth French Open title; Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will be looking to go one better than his losing finalist result of last year and win his first French Open. Their race for the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on the women’s side will see Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams heavily fancied.
Wimbledon Tennis Championship, London, UK – 24 June – 7 July 2013
Still regarded as the greatest tennis tournament and the most prestigious in the world, this is the only major tennis tournament to still be played on grass. The tournament in the borough of Wimbledon, London, England takes place over two weeks from Monday June 24th 2013 to Sunday July 7th. The tournament is played to strict traditions, including the wearing of only white clothing and players still referred to as Miss or Mrs. Spectators can catch a glimpse of members of the royal family watching games and enjoy strawberries and ice cream.
Britain’s Andy Murray will be hoping to become the first home player to win the men’s championship since Fred Perry in 1936 especially after narrowly missing out in 2012. Murray should be filled with confidence since winning the 2012 Olympic final played on Wimbledon’s grass courts.
U.S. Open, New York – 26 August – 8 September 2013
The final major tennis tournament of the year takes place at the USTA national tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. With a history dating back to 1881 the U.S. Open maintains a party atmosphere with its night sessions running late into the night from August 26th to September 8th; New York is a 24 hour city, which is reflected in the schedule of the tournament.
Andy Murray was the 2012 winner of the U.S. Open Men’s tournament beating Novak Djokovic in a rain delayed final played on a Monday evening; this was Murray’s first Grand Slam tournament victory and the first win by a British male since the legendary Fred Perry. On the women’s side the evergreen Serena Williams took her fourth U.S. Open title and 15th Grand Slam title at her home major in 2012; the unpredictability of women’s tennis makes it difficult to pick a winner each year.
