- See Australian Open 2011 for the following year's event.
Men's world No 1 tennis player Roger Federer (Switzerland), Australian Open men's tennis champion in 2004, 2006 and 2007, wrested back his Australian Open standing when he won the men's singles final in Melbourne Park on January 31.
Federer had lost to Rafael Nadal (Spain) in 2009. The prospect of a rematch was dashed when Nadal was eliminated in the quarter-finals due to injury.
Women's world No 1 tennis player Serena Williams (USA), Australian Open women's champion in odd-numbered years 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009, successfully defended her Australian Open crown this even-numbered year.
Fallen stars
On Day 1 of the Australian Open, 2008 Australian Open women's singles champion Maria Sharapova (Russia), a former world No 1 in women's tennis, lost to unseeded compatriot Maria Kirilenko in a three-setter in the first round.
On Day 3 on January 20, No 5 seed Elena Dementieva (Russia), winner of the Sydney International for two consecutive years (2009. 2010), was downed by Belgian player Justine Henin who had retired in 2008 and had only just returned to professional competition.
In a five-setter lasting more than four hours, Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis defeated No 17 seed David Ferrer (Spain), in the second round on January 21.
On Day 5 on January 22, No 15 seed Kim Clijsters (Belgium), US Open champion in 2005 and 2009, lost to No 19 seed Nadia Petrova (Russia) in the third round.
On Day 7 on January 24, No 7 seed Andy Roddick (USA) prevailed over No 11 seed Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) in a five-setter of close to three and a half hours.
On Day 8 on January 25, No 6 seed Venus Williams, (USA) defeated No 17 seed Francesca Schiavone (Italy) and advances to the quarter-finals.
On Day 9 on January 26, No 2 seed and Australian Open defending champion Rafael Nadal (Spain) withdrew in the third set of the quarter-finals due to a right knee injury.
Winners and losers
- Justine Henin Is Back
- Elena Dementieva in Sydney Triumph
- Maria Sharapova Loses in First Round
- Justine Henin Downs No 5 Seed Elena Dementieva
- Top Players Eliminated in First Two Rounds
- Marcos Baghdatis Trounces No 17 Seed David Ferrer
- Henin Cuts Down Another Seed, Advances to Fourth Round
- Falling Stars: More Seeded Players Suffer Defeat
- Baghdatis Gives Match Away in Second Set Withdrawal
- Williams Sisters Through to Quarter-Finals
- Defending Champion Rafael Nadal out of Australian Open
- Serena Williams Advances to Australian Open Final
- It's a Williams-Henin Women's Final
- Federer Defeats Tsonga to Advance to the Men's Singles Final
- Serena Williams Retains Women's Singles Title
- Federer Wins Men's Singles Title
Top 20 seeded players
Men
- Roger Federer (Switzerland) - won the final on January 31
- Rafael Nadal (Spain) - eliminated in the quarter-finals, retiring in the third set due to injury
- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) - eliminated in the quarter-finals
- Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) - eliminated in Round 4
- Andy Murray (UK) - lost in the final to Roger Federer.
- Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) - eliminated in the quarter-finals
- Andy Roddick (USA) - eliminated in the quarter-finals
- Robin Soderling (Sweden) - eliminated in Round 1
- Fernando Verdasco (Spain) - eliminated in Round 4
- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) - eliminated in the semi-finals
- Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) - eliminated in Round 4
- Gael Monfils (France) - eliminated in Round 3
- Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) - eliminated in Round 1
- Marin Cilic (Croatia) - eliminated in the semi-finals
- Gilles Simon (France) - pulled out of Australian Open due to injury
- Tommy Robredo (Spain) - eliminated in Round 1
- David Ferrer (Spain) - eliminated in Round 2
- Tommy Haas (Germany) - eliminated in Round 3
- Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) - eliminated in Round 3
- Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) - withdrew pre-match in Round 3
Women
- Serena Williams (USA) - - won the final on January 30
- Dinara Safina (Russia) - withdrew in the first set in Round 4
- Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) - eliminated in Round 4
- Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) - eliminated in Round 4
- Elena Dementieva (Russia) - eliminated in Round 2
- Venus Williams (USA) - eliminated in the quarter-finals
- Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) - eliminated in the quarter-finals
- Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) - eliminated in Round 3
- Vera Zvonareva (Russia) - eliminated in Round 4
- Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) - eliminated in Round 3
- Marion Bartoli (France) - eliminated in Round 3
- Flavia Pennetta (Italy) - eliminated in Round 2
- Samantha Stosur (Australia) - eliminated in Round 4
- Maria Sharapova (Russia) - eliminated in Round 1
- Kim Clijsters (Belgium) - eliminated in Round 3
- Na Li (China) - eliminated in the semi-finals
- Francesca Schiavone (Italy) - eliminated in Round 4
- Virginie Razzano (France) - eliminated in Round 1
- Nadia Petrova (Russia) - eliminated in the quarter-finals
- Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) - eliminated in Round 2
January 18 start
The 2010 Australian Open, the first of the world's four Grand Slam tennis tournaments during the year, opened at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2010.
The world's Grand Slams
The four Grand Slam tournaments are the Australian Open, French Open at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open.
Only one, Australian tennis player Rod Laver, has won the Grand Slam — winning all four tournaments in one year — twice.
Next page: The Quarter-Finals
