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2018 Australian Open
2018 Australian Open
2018 Australian Open
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2018 Australian Open
Date15–28 January 2018
Edition106th
Open Era (50th)
CategoryGrand Slam
Draw128S / 64D /
Prize moneyA$55,000,000
SurfaceHard (Plexicushion)
LocationMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
VenueMelbourne Park
Attendance743,667[1]
Champions
Men's singles
Switzerland Roger Federer
Women's singles
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Men's doubles
Austria Oliver Marach / Croatia Mate Pavić
Women's doubles
Hungary Tímea Babos / France Kristina Mladenovic
Mixed doubles
Croatia Mate Pavić / Canada Gabriela Dabrowski
Wheelchair men's singles
Japan Shingo Kunieda
Wheelchair women's singles
Netherlands Diede de Groot
Wheelchair quad singles
Australia Dylan Alcott
Wheelchair men's doubles
France Stéphane Houdet / France Nicolas Peifer
Wheelchair women's doubles
Netherlands Marjolein Buis / Japan Yui Kamiji
Wheelchair quad doubles
Australia Dylan Alcott / Australia Heath Davidson
Boys' singles
United States Sebastian Korda
Girls' singles
Chinese Taipei Liang En-shuo
Boys' doubles
France Hugo Gaston / France Clément Tabur
Girls' doubles
Chinese Taipei Liang En-shuo / China Wang Xinyu
← 2017 · Australian Open · 2019 →

The 2018 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played at Melbourne Park between 15 and 28 January 2018, and was the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2018 season. The tournament consisted of events for professional players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Junior and wheelchair players compete in singles and doubles tournaments. Roger Federer was the defending champion in the men's singles event and successfully retained his title (his sixth), his record twentieth Grand Slam major overall, defeating Marin Čilić in the final, while Caroline Wozniacki won the women's title, defeating Simona Halep in the final to win her first Grand Slam.

The tournament was the 106th edition of the event (the 50th edition of the Open Era). Additionally, it was the 200th Major tournament of the Open Era. It also marked the 30th anniversary of the Australian Open moving from the Kooyong Tennis Club to Melbourne Park. The tournament had a record attendance of 743,667 spectators.

Tournament

[edit]
Rod Laver Arena where the Finals of the Australian Open took place

The 2018 Australian Open was the 106th edition of the tournament and was held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The tournament was run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and was part of the 2018 ATP World Tour and the 2018 WTA Tour calendars under the Grand Slam category. The tournament consisted of both men's and women's singles and doubles draws as well as a mixed doubles event. There were singles and doubles events for both boys and girls (players under 18), which were part of the Grade A category of tournaments, and also singles, doubles and quad events for men's and women's wheelchair tennis players as part of the NEC tour under the Grand Slam category.

The tournament was played on hard courts over a series of 25 courts, including the three main show courts: Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and Margaret Court Arena.[2]

Point and prize money distribution

[edit]

Point distribution

[edit]

Below is a series of tables for each of the competitions showing the ranking points offered for each event.

Senior points

[edit]
Event W F SF QF Round of 16 Round of 32 Round of 64 Round of 128 Q Q3 Q2 Q1
Men's singles 2000 1200 720 360 180 90 45 10 25 16 8 0
Men's doubles 0 — — — — —
Women's singles 1300 780 430 240 130 70 10 40 30 20 2
Women's doubles 10 — — — — —

Prize money

[edit]

The Australian Open total prize money for 2018 was increased by 10% to a tournament record A$55,000,000.

Event W F SF QF Round of 16 Round of 32 Round of 64 Round of 1281 Q3 Q2 Q1
Singles A$4,000,000 A$2,000,000 A$880,000 A$440,000 A$240,000 A$142,500 A$90,000 A$60,000 A$30,000 A$15,000 A$7,500
Doubles * A$750,000 A$375,000 A$185,000 A$90,000 A$45,000 A$22,500 A$14,000 — — — —
Mixed doubles * A$160,000 A$80,000 A$40,000 A$20,000 A$10,000 A$5,000 — — — — —

1Qualifiers prize money was also the Round of 128 prize money.
*per team

Singles players

[edit]
2018 Australian Open – Men's singles
2018 Australian Open – Women's singles

Day-by-day summaries

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries

Champions

[edit]

Seniors

[edit]

Men's singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Men's singles

Women's singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Women's singles

Men's doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Men's doubles

Women's doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Women's doubles

Mixed doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Mixed doubles

Juniors

[edit]

Boys' singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Boys' singles

Girls' singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Girls' singles

Boys' doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Boys' doubles

Girls' doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Girls' doubles

Wheelchair events

[edit]

Wheelchair men's singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair men's singles

Wheelchair women's singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's singles

Wheelchair quad singles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair quad singles

Wheelchair men's doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair men's doubles

Wheelchair women's doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's doubles

Wheelchair quad doubles

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Wheelchair quad doubles

Singles seeds

[edit]

The following are the seeded players and notable players who have withdrawn from the event. Seedings are arranged according to ATP and WTA rankings on 8 January 2018, while ranking and points before are as of 15 January 2018. Points after are as of 29 January 2018.

Men's singles

[edit]
Seed Rank Player Points before Points defending Points won Points after Status
1 1 Spain Rafael Nadal 10,600 1,200 360 9,760 Quarterfinals retired against Croatia Marin Čilić [6]
2 2 Switzerland Roger Federer 9,605 2,000 2,000 9,605 Champion, defeated Croatia Marin Čilić [6]
3 3 Bulgaria Grigor Dimitrov 4,990 720 360 4,630 Quarterfinals lost to United Kingdom Kyle Edmund
4 4 Germany Alexander Zverev 4,610 90 90 4,610 Third round lost to South Korea Chung Hyeon
5 5 Austria Dominic Thiem 4,060 180 180 4,060 Fourth round lost to United States Tennys Sandgren
6 6 Croatia Marin Čilić 3,805 45 1,200 4,960 Runner-up, lost to Switzerland Roger Federer [2]
7 7 Belgium David Goffin 3,775 360 45 3,460 Second round lost to France Julien Benneteau
8 9 United States Jack Sock 2,960 90 10 2,880 First round lost to Japan Yūichi Sugita
9 8 Switzerland Stan Wawrinka 3,060 720 45 2,385 Second round lost to United States Tennys Sandgren
10 11 Spain Pablo Carreño Busta 2,615 90 180 2,705 Fourth round lost to Croatia Marin Čilić [6]
11 12 South Africa Kevin Anderson 2,610 0 10 2,620 First round lost to United Kingdom Kyle Edmund
12 10 Argentina Juan Martín del Potro 2,725 0 90 2,815 Third round lost to Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych [19]
13 13 United States Sam Querrey 2,535 90 45 2,490 Second round lost to Hungary Márton Fucsovics
14 14 Serbia Novak Djokovic 2,335 45 180 2,470 Fourth round lost to South Korea Chung Hyeon
15 15 France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 2,320 360 90 2,050 Third round lost to Australia Nick Kyrgios [17]
16 16 United States John Isner 2,265 45 10 2,230 First round lost to Australia Matthew Ebden
17 17 Australia Nick Kyrgios 2,260 45 180 2,395 Fourth round lost to Bulgaria Grigor Dimitrov [3]
18 18 France Lucas Pouille 2,235 10 10 2,235 First round lost to Belgium Ruben Bemelmans [Q]
19 20 Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych 2,050 90 360 2,320 Quarterfinals lost to Switzerland Roger Federer [2]
20 21 Spain Roberto Bautista Agut 2,015 180 10 1,845 First round lost to Spain Fernando Verdasco
21 22 Spain Albert Ramos Viñolas 1,845 10 90 1,925 Third round lost to Serbia Novak Djokovic [14]
22 23 Canada Milos Raonic 1,750 360 10 1,400 First round lost to Slovakia Lukáš Lacko
23 28 Luxembourg Gilles Müller 1,490 45 90 1,535 Third round lost to Spain Pablo Carreño Busta [10]
24 26 Argentina Diego Schwartzman 1,675 45 180 1,810 Fourth round lost to Spain Rafael Nadal [1]
25 25 Italy Fabio Fognini 1,715 45 180 1,850 Fourth round lost to Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych [19]
26 27 France Adrian Mannarino 1,625 10 90 1,705 Third round lost to Austria Dominic Thiem [5]
27 29 Germany Philipp Kohlschreiber 1,415 90 10 1,335 First round lost to Japan Yoshihito Nishioka [PR]
28 30 Bosnia and Herzegovina Damir Džumhur 1,391 10 90 1,471 Third round lost to Spain Rafael Nadal [1]
29 31 France Richard Gasquet 1,375 90 90 1,375 Third round lost to Switzerland Roger Federer [2]
30 32 Russia Andrey Rublev 1,373 70+60 90+6 1,339 Third round lost to Bulgaria Grigor Dimitrov [3]
31 34 Uruguay Pablo Cuevas 1,345 10 45 1,380 Second round lost to United States Ryan Harrison
32 35 Germany Mischa Zverev 1,302 360 10 952 First round retired against South Korea Chung Hyeon

The following players would have been seeded, but they withdrew from the event.

Rank Player Points before Points defending Points after Withdrawal reason
19 United Kingdom Andy Murray 2,140 180 1,960 Hip injury
24 Japan Kei Nishikori 1,735 180 1,555 Wrist injury

Women's singles

[edit]
Seed Rank Player Points before Points defending Points won Points after Status
1 1 Romania Simona Halep 6,425 10 1,300 7,715 Runner-up, lost to Denmark Caroline Wozniacki [2]
2 2 Denmark Caroline Wozniacki 6,095 130 2,000 7,965 Champion, defeated Romania Simona Halep [1]
3 3 Spain Garbiñe Muguruza 6,050 430 70 5,690 Second round lost to Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
4 4 Ukraine Elina Svitolina 5,785 130 430 6,085 Quarterfinals lost to Belgium Elise Mertens
5 5 United States Venus Williams 5,568 1,300 10 4,278 First round lost to Switzerland Belinda Bencic
6 6 Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková 5,445 430 430 5,445 Quarterfinals lost to Romania Simona Halep [1]
7 7 Latvia Jeļena Ostapenko 4,901 130 130 4,901 Third round lost to Estonia Anett Kontaveit [32]
8 8 France Caroline Garcia 4,385 130 240 4,495 Fourth round lost to United States Madison Keys [17]
9 10 United Kingdom Johanna Konta 3,185 430 70 2,825 Second round lost to United States Bernarda Pera [LL]
10 9 United States CoCo Vandeweghe 3,204 780 10 2,434 First round lost to Hungary Tímea Babos
11 11 France Kristina Mladenovic 2,935 10 10 2,935 First round lost to Romania Ana Bogdan
12 12 Germany Julia Görges 2,825 70 70 2,825 Second round lost to France Alizé Cornet
13 13 United States Sloane Stephens 2,803 0 10 2,813 First round lost to China Zhang Shuai
14 15 Latvia Anastasija Sevastova 2,600 130 70 2,540 Second round lost to Russia Maria Sharapova
15 18 Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2,485 430 70 2,125 Second round lost to Ukraine Kateryna Bondarenko
16 19 Russia Elena Vesnina 2,220 130 70 2,160 Second round lost to Japan Naomi Osaka
17 20 United States Madison Keys 2,214 0 430 2,644 Quarterfinals lost to Germany Angelique Kerber [21]
18 17 Australia Ashleigh Barty 2,486 130 130 2,486 Third round lost to Japan Naomi Osaka
19 21 Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková 2,141 (18)[a] 240 2,363 Fourth round lost to Denmark Caroline Wozniacki [2]
20 24 Czech Republic Barbora Strýcová 1,940 240 240 1,940 Fourth round lost to Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková [6]
21 16 Germany Angelique Kerber 2,491 240 780 3,031 Semifinals lost to Romania Simona Halep [1]
22 25 Russia Daria Kasatkina 1,905 10 70 1,965 Second round lost to Poland Magda Linette
23 23 Australia Daria Gavrilova 1,990 240 70 1,820 Second round lost to Belgium Elise Mertens
24 26 Slovakia Dominika Cibulková 1,860 130 10 1,740 First round lost to Estonia Kaia Kanepi
25 27 China Peng Shuai 1,765 70 10 1,705 First round lost to Ukraine Marta Kostyuk [Q]
26 35 Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 1,510 70 130 1,570 Third round lost to Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
27 28 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 1,708 0 10 1,718 First round lost to Germany Andrea Petkovic
28 30 Croatia Mirjana Lučić-Baroni 1,618 780 70 908 Second round lost to Belarus Aliaksandra Sasnovich
29 29 Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová 1,650 70 130 1,710 Third round lost to Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková [6]
30 32 Netherlands Kiki Bertens 1,605 10 130 1,725 Third round lost to Denmark Caroline Wozniacki [2]
31 31 Russia Ekaterina Makarova 1,605 240 10 1,375 First round lost to Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
32 33 Estonia Anett Kontaveit 1,560 10+80 240+30 1,740 Fourth round lost to Spain Carla Suárez Navarro
  1. ^ Rybáriková did not participate in the 2017 Australian Open. Accordingly, her 16th best result from the past 12 months will be subtracted from her ranking points instead.

The following players would have been seeded, but they withdrew or not entered from the event.

Rank Player Points before Points defending Points after Withdrawal reason
14 Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova 2,702 240 2,462 Left wrist injury
22 United States Serena Williams 2,000 2,000 0 Maternity

Doubles seeds

[edit]

Mixed doubles

[edit]
Team Rank1 Seed
Chinese Taipei Latisha Chan United Kingdom Jamie Murray 10 1
Australia Casey Dellacqua Australia John Peers 13 2
Russia Ekaterina Makarova Brazil Bruno Soares 13 3
Czech Republic Květa Peschke Finland Henri Kontinen 23 4
Hungary Tímea Babos India Rohan Bopanna 26 5
Czech Republic Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková France Édouard Roger-Vasselin 31 6
Chinese Taipei Chan Hao-ching New Zealand Michael Venus 32 7
Canada Gabriela Dabrowski Croatia Mate Pavić 34 8
  • 1 Rankings are as of 8 January 2018.

Main draw wildcard entries

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Australian Open – Main draw wildcard entries

Main draw qualifier entries

[edit]

The qualifying competition took place in Melbourne Park on 10 to 14 January 2018 (was originally to end on 13 January, but got rescheduled due to heavy rain). However, matches were extended to 5 days due to bad weather on the third day of qualifying.

Protected ranking

[edit]

The following players were accepted directly into the main draw using a protected ranking:

Withdrawals

[edit]

The following players were accepted directly into the main tournament, but withdrew with injuries or other reasons.

Before the tournament

† – not included on entry list
‡ – withdrew from entry list before qualifying began
@ – withdrew from entry list after qualifying began
§ – withdrew from main draw

Retirements

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2018 Australian Open

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2018 Australian Open was a professional tennis tournament held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 15 to 28 January 2018. It marked the first Grand Slam event of the year and featured the top players in men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions on hard courts. The tournament attracted a record attendance of 743,667 spectators over its two-week duration, surpassing the previous year's figure. In the men's singles final, defending champion of defeated of 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 to claim his sixth title and twentieth major overall. Federer, seeded second, did not drop a set until the final and became the tournament's oldest men's singles winner at age 36. In the women's singles, second-seeded of overcame world No. 1 of 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4 in a nearly three-hour match to secure her first Grand Slam title and reclaim the top ranking. Wozniacki's victory capped a resilient run that included saving match points in the second round against . The doubles events also produced notable results, with Oliver Marach (Austria) and Mate Pavić (Croatia) winning the men's doubles title 6–4, 6–4 over Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah (Colombia). In women's doubles, Tímea Babos (Hungary) and Kristina Mladenovic (France) defeated Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6–4, 6–3 for their first Grand Slam title as a pair. The mixed doubles crown went to Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) and Mate Pavić, who beat Babos and Rohan Bopanna (India). The total prize money pool reached a record A$55 million, with singles champions each earning A$4 million. Semifinals featured breakthroughs for younger players, including Hyeon Chung () and Kyle Edmund (), both reaching their first major semifinals. The tournament was remembered for its high-quality baseline rallies, Federer's short-point dominance in the final, and the competitive women's draw that saw the No. 1 ranking change hands.

Background

Overview

The 2018 Australian Open marked the 106th edition of the tournament overall and the 50th in the Open Era, serving as the first Grand Slam event of the year. Held from January 15 to 28, 2018, it took place at in , Victoria, , featuring outdoor hard courts surfaced with . The event utilized Wilson Australian Open balls and followed the standard Grand Slam format with draws of 128 players in singles and 64 teams in doubles. Organized by , the tournament was co-sanctioned by the ATP and WTA but as a Grand Slam stood above the tour levels in prestige and points allocation, surpassing ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events for men and WTA Premier Mandatory events for women. The total prize money reached a record A$55,000,000 at the time, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year and underscoring the event's growing financial scale. This edition attracted top global talent across singles, doubles, and categories, culminating in victories by in men's singles and in women's singles.

Historical Context

The Australian Open traces its origins to 1905, when it was established as the Australasian Championships, initially contested on grass courts in and limited primarily to male players from and . Over the decades, the event evolved significantly, expanding to include women's competitions in 1922 and renaming itself the Australian Championships in 1927 before becoming the Australian Open in 1969 with the advent of the Open Era, which allowed professional players to participate. This progression reflected broader changes in , including multiple venue shifts across Australian cities and a transition to hard courts in 1988, transforming it into a cornerstone of the global Grand Slam calendar. The 2018 edition held particular historical significance as the 30th anniversary of the tournament's relocation from the grass courts of to the modern facilities at , a move that elevated its status and attendance. It also marked the 200th major tournament in the Open Era, underscoring the event's enduring place in history since professionals joined amateurs in 1968. As the opening Grand Slam of the 2018 season, the tournament followed key off-season exhibitions such as the , held in Perth from late December 2017 to early January 2018, which featured mixed-nation teams and served as a competitive warm-up for top players. It directly succeeded the 2017 Australian Open, where claimed the men's singles title by defeating in the final, and won the women's singles by overcoming her sister . Building on the record prize purse of the prior year, the 2018 event further increased its total financial commitment to A$55 million, reinforcing its growth as a premier sporting spectacle.

Venue and Organization

Location and Facilities

The 2018 Australian Open was held at in , Victoria, , a multi-purpose sports and entertainment precinct that has served as the tournament's permanent home since its relocation from Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in 1988. Situated approximately 3 kilometers east of the (CBD), the venue spans about 40 hectares and integrates seamlessly with the surrounding precinct, providing a vibrant urban setting for the event. Melbourne Park featured three primary show courts for the 2018 tournament: , the main stadium with a capacity of 15,000 spectators and (installed in 1988 and upgraded in 2015) to mitigate weather disruptions; (formerly until its renaming in July 2008), accommodating 10,000 fans with its (installed upon opening in 2000); and , which held 7,500 spectators following a 2014 that expanded its capacity from 6,000, including a installed as part of the . In total, the venue provided 39 courts, including 33 competition and practice hard courts across the National Tennis Centre and surrounding areas, supporting the tournament's extensive schedule of singles, doubles, and junior events. All courts utilized the standard acrylic hard surface, designed for consistent ball bounce and player safety. Since the 1988 opening of the National Tennis Centre as part of the initial relocation, has undergone several major expansions to accommodate growing attendance and modern standards, including a 1996 site-wide upgrade that added additional courts and facilities, a 2001 introduction of the second roofed arena, and a comprehensive $387 million redevelopment from 2010 to 2016 that enhanced seating, lighting, and player amenities. was a key feature, with the venue connected to the CBD via a 10-minute walk across Birrarung Marr or the Tanderrum Bridge, and robust options including frequent trains to Jolimont Station (a 10-minute walk away), free trams along routes 48, 70, 75, and 109 for ticket holders, bus services, and water taxis along the . Spectator amenities at Melbourne Park emphasized comfort and entertainment, with multiple food courts offering diverse Australian and international , shaded fan zones for relaxation, and the AO Ballpark—a dedicated entertainment area featuring live music stages, interactive kids' activities like mini-courts, and family-oriented attractions to engage visitors beyond the matches. Additional conveniences included free hotspots, mobile charging stations, and cloaking services throughout the precinct.

Surface and Conditions

The 2018 Australian Open was played on blue Prestige hard courts, an acrylic-based surface introduced at in 2008 that provides a resilient cushioning layer composed of latex, rubber, and plastic particles to absorb impact and reduce player fatigue. This surface offered consistent and predictable ball bounce, enhanced traction for footing, and a medium-fast pace classified under ITF Category 4, making it faster than slower European clay courts but comparable to the medium-fast hard courts at the US Open. The Australian Open adopted hard courts in 1988 upon relocating to from grass at . The official ball was the Wilson Australian Open, featuring OptiVis felt for improved visibility and a denser fiber structure designed specifically for all-court conditions, including a lively bounce suited to hard surfaces that complemented the Plexicushion's responsiveness. All courts adhered to standard specifications, measuring 23.77 meters in length and 8.23 meters in width for singles play (extending to 10.97 meters for doubles), with lines 50 millimeters wide painted in white for clear demarcation. The medium-fast pace and moderate bounce favored baseline-oriented players by allowing for controlled point construction. Court involved daily sweeping with soft-bristled brooms to remove debris and smooth the surface, ensuring uniformity throughout the event, while floodlighting illuminated night sessions on the main courts for consistent visibility.

Tournament Format

and Draws

The qualifying rounds for the 2018 were held from January 10 to 13, featuring three rounds each for men's and women's singles to determine 16 direct entries per gender into the main draw. These matches took place on outer courts at , providing opportunities for lower-ranked players to advance. The main draw spanned January 15 to 28, marking the standard two-week Grand Slam duration, with the women's singles final on January 27 and the men's on January 28. The draw ceremony occurred on January 11 at , where seeds and player matchups were announced, setting the bracket for all events including singles, doubles, and . Men's singles adopted a best-of-five sets format, while women's singles used best-of-three sets, consistent with Grand Slam traditions. Play followed a structured daily across Park's arenas, with day sessions commencing at 11:00 AM on and other show courts, allowing for multiple matches before transitioning to evening entertainment. Night sessions began at 7:00 PM exclusively on , highlighting marquee singles contests under lights. The order of play emphasized singles priority, scheduling them ahead of doubles and junior events to maximize attendance for top-tier matches. Tiebreak rules adhered to standard Grand Slam protocols, with a seven-point tiebreak played at 6-6 games in non-deciding sets for both men's and women's singles. In deciding sets— the fifth for men and third for women—no tiebreak was used; instead, play continued until one player secured a two-game lead, promoting extended rallies and strategic depth. This format remained unchanged from prior years, as modifications to final-set tiebreaks were introduced only in 2019.

Points Distribution

The 2018 Australian Open, as one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, allocated ranking points in accordance with the ATP and WTA systems for professional singles and doubles events. These points contribute to players' overall rankings, with the highest awards reserved for deep advancement in the draw. The distribution for men's and women's singles was identical, emphasizing the tournament's prestige in the ranking structure.
RoundSingles Points (ATP/WTA)
Winner2000
Finalist1200
Semifinalist720
Quarterfinalist360
Round of 16180
Third round90
Second round45
First round10
For doubles, the points structure mirrored singles, with the winning team earning 2000 points and scaling down proportionally for earlier exits, reflecting the event's 64-draw format. This system applied uniformly to both men's and women's doubles. The junior championships awarded points under the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors system, with the singles winner receiving 500 points in the pre-April 2018 structure applicable to the event (transitioning to 1000 points later in the year for Grade A tournaments). The finalist earned 350 points.
RoundJunior Singles Points (ITF)
Winner500
Finalist350
Semifinalist225
Quarterfinalist150
Round of 1690
Round of 3250
Round of 6425
Wheelchair events followed the ITF UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour rankings, where the men's and women's singles winner received 800 points, the finalist 650 points, and semifinalists 400 points each; quad singles awards were adjusted lower, with the winner earning 400 points. These points helped solidify top positions in specialized rankings. Grand Slam points from the 2018 counted toward players' best 18 tournaments (ATP) or 16 (WTA, pre-2019 adjustment) for year-end rankings, providing a significant boost comparable to the identical distributions at Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open. For instance, strong performances here could propel players like back to world No. 1.

Prizes and Rankings

Prize Money

The 2018 Australian Open distributed a record total of A$55,000,000, representing a 10% increase from the A$50,000,000 purse in 2017 and equivalent to approximately US$43.7 million at prevailing exchange rates. This enhancement underscored ongoing efforts to elevate financial rewards in the sport, with equal pay maintained for men's and women's singles champions. Prize money in singles events was structured on a tiered basis, rewarding progression through the draw. The champions in both the men's and women's singles received A4,000,000each,whilerunners−upearnedA4,000,000 each, while runners-up earned A2,000,000. Semifinalists collected A$880,000, and quarterfinalists A$440,000.
RoundPrize Money (AUD, per player)
Winner4,000,000
Runner-up2,000,000
Semifinal880,000
Quarterfinal440,000
In doubles competitions, the winning teams in men's and women's events shared A$700,000. Players exiting in the first round of the main draw singles received A$60,000 as a participation payout, with additional allocations for qualifying rounds starting at lower amounts to support emerging competitors.

Ranking Points

The 2018 Australian Open served as a pivotal event in the ATP and WTA ranking systems, awarding standard Grand Slam points that significantly influenced players' positions and their progress toward year-end championships qualification. Winners in men's and women's singles received 2,000 points, with runners-up earning 1,200, semi-finalists 720, and decreasing amounts for earlier rounds, contributing directly to the 52-week rolling rankings and the season-long Race to the and . These points were particularly crucial as the first Grand Slam of the year, providing an early boost in the race standings used to determine the top eight qualifiers for the season-ending events in and , respectively. Post-tournament, the results led to notable shifts at the top of both tours. , after defending his title with a straight-sets victory over , surged to No. 2 in the with 9,605 points, trailing Rafael Nadal's 9,760 by just 155 points—his closest rival since reclaiming the top spot in —setting the stage for his return to No. 1 the following month. In the , capitalized on her maiden Grand Slam triumph over , ascending to No. 1 with 7,965 points, 250 ahead of the runner-up Halep at 7,715, marking her first time atop the standings since 2012. For players defending substantial points from the prior year, such as 2016 champion —who entered protecting 240 points from her 2017 fourth-round run—a strong performance was essential; her semi-final appearance netted 720 points, bolstering her position at No. 10. Protected rankings enabled several players recovering from long-term injuries to compete in the main draw without relying on their current standings. Notable entrants included Andreas Haider-Maurer of (protected at No. 63), who had been sidelined by hip surgery, along with of (No. 66), John Millman of , and Ričardas Berankis of , allowing them to bypass qualifying based on rankings from before their absences of at least six months. Separate ranking systems governed the junior and competitions, independent of the ATP and WTA tours. The junior events contributed to the ITF World Junior Tennis Rankings, with singles winners earning up to 500 points to aid progression on the junior circuit. followed the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour structure, where the Australian Open's Super Series status offered key points—such as 800 for singles champions—to competitors like (men's winner) and (women's winner), impacting their global wheelchair standings.

Player Entries

Seeds

The seeds for the 2018 Australian Open were determined according to the ATP and WTA rankings as of January 8, 2018, with the official draw and seeding announcement made on January 11.

Men's Singles Seeds

SeedPlayerNationalityRanking
11
22
33
44
55
66
77
88
99
1010
11Kevin Anderson11
1212
1313
1414
1515
1616
1717
1818
1919
2020
2121
2222
2323
2424
2525
2626
2727
2828
2929
3030
3131
3232

Women's Singles Seeds

SeedPlayerNationalityRanking
1Romania1
2Denmark2
3Spain3
4Ukraine4
5United States5
66
7Latvia7
8France8
9Great Britain9
10United States10
11France11
12Germany12
13United States13
14Anastasija SevastovaLatvia14
15Anastasiya PavlyuchenkovaRussia15
16Russia16
17United States17
18Australia18
19Magdaléna RybárikováSlovakia19
2020
21Germany21
22Dar'ya KasatkinaRussia22
23Dar'ya GavrilovaAustralia23
24Slovakia24
25China25
26Poland26
2727
2828
2929
3030
31Russia31
32Estonia32

Men's Doubles Seeds

SeedTeamNationalities
1 / /
2Henri Kontinen / /
3 / /
4 / /
5 / /
6 / /
7Oliver Marach / /
8Raven Klaasen / /
9 / /
10 / Édouard Roger-Vasselin /
11 / /
12 / /
13Santiago González / Julio Peralta /
14 / /
15Marcin Matkowski / /
16 / Divij Sharan /

Women's Doubles Seeds

SeedTeamNationalities
1 / Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková /
2 / /
3 / /
4 / /
5 / Hungary / France
6 / Yifan XuCanada /
7 / Johanna LarssonNetherlands /
8 / /
9Andreja Klepač / María José Martínez Sánchez /
10 / /
11 / Zhaoxuan Yang /
12Raquel Atawo / Anna-Lena Grönefeld /
13Nicole Melichar / Květa Peschke /
14Hao-Ching Chan / /
15 / Abigail Spears /
16 / /

Mixed Doubles Seeds

SeedTeamNationalities
1 / /
2 / /
3 / Russia / Brazil
4Květa Peschke / Henri Kontinen /
5 / /
6Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková / Édouard Roger-Vasselin /
7 / /
8 / /

Qualifiers and Wildcards

The qualifying tournaments for the 2018 Australian Open took place at Melbourne Park in from 10 to 13 2018, ahead of the main draw. Each event featured a 128-player singles draw across three rounds, with 16 spots available in the men's and women's main draws for those who won three matches. In the men's singles qualifying, 16 players advanced, including of the , of , of , and Ruben Bemelmans of . Other notable qualifiers were of , of , of , of , of , and Gastão Elias of . The full list of men's qualifiers also comprised (USA), Thiago Monteiro (BRA), (USA), Henri Laaksonen (SUI), (IND), and (UKR). The women's singles qualifying produced 16 main draw entrants, such as of the United States, of Russia, Lin Zhu of China, and of Switzerland. Additional qualifiers included (BEL), (MNE), (GBR), Risa Ozaki (JPN), (AUS), Françoise Abanda (CAN), (THA), Miyu Kato (JPN), (CZE), Viktória Kužmová (SVK), (ITA), and Vera Lapko (BLR). One lucky loser entered the men's main draw: Peter Polansky of , who had lost in the final round of qualifying but replaced a withdrawn player. In the women's draw, Bernarda Pera of the gained entry as a lucky loser after a final-round qualifying defeat, becoming the sole such entrant. No other lucky losers were noted for the women's event. Wildcards for the men's singles main draw were awarded to four players, primarily Australian talents: Alex Bolt, , Jordan Thompson, and James Duckworth. The also granted one wildcard, which went to . For the women's singles, wildcards went to Australians Destanee , Priscilla , and Lizette , alongside the USTA recipient, of the . In the doubles events, wildcards were granted to several Australian teams to support local participation, including pairs such as and in men's doubles, and Monique Adamczak with Jessica Moore in women's doubles. These entries provided opportunities for emerging home players to compete alongside the seeded pairs.

Withdrawals and Retirements

Several notable players withdrew from the prior to the tournament due to injuries or personal circumstances, impacting the main draw and leading to entries from alternates and lucky losers from qualifying. On the men's side, former world No. 1 pulled out citing a chronic hip injury that had sidelined him for much of the previous year. Japanese star also withdrew because of a lingering injury. Defending champion and top seed opted not to withdraw pre-tournament despite recent injury concerns but had skipped lead-up events. In the women's draw, defending champion announced her withdrawal, stating she was not yet ready to compete following the birth of her daughter in September 2017. Two-time former champion also pulled out, citing ongoing personal issues related to a battle that had already caused her to miss prior tournaments. Russian veteran withdrew due to injury concerns. These absences opened spots filled by qualifiers or lucky losers, such as entering as a late replacement. During the tournament, several players retired mid-match, often due to acute injuries exacerbated by the demanding conditions. In men's singles, world No. 1 retired in the quarterfinals against while trailing 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5), 2–6, 0–2, hampered by a leg injury that caused significant pain and mobility issues. South Korean Hyeon Chung retired in the semifinals versus while trailing 6–1, 2–5 in the second set, due to severe blisters on his feet. Earlier, 32nd seed retired in the first round against Chung while trailing 2–6, 1–4, citing injury; this drew a record $45,000 fine under new rules penalizing early retirements to deter tactical withdrawals. On the women's side, retirements were fewer but included instances like those addressed by updated policies allowing half for pre-match withdrawals to reduce on-court retirements. Overall, the tournament saw fewer first-round retirements than in prior years, attributed partly to these incentives, with only one in the men's main draw. Some players entered using protected rankings to regain spots after long injury absences, facilitating their return despite prior withdrawals.

Championships

Men's Singles

The 2018 Australian Open men's singles tournament featured a 128-player single-elimination draw played over best-of-five sets on outdoor hard courts at , with the event running from January 15 to January 28. entered as the defending champion and second seed, having won the title in 2017 after a dramatic comeback against , but faced a challenging field altered by the withdrawal of top seed Nadal due to a hip injury sustained at the previous year's tournament. Third seed , fourth seed , and fifth seed rounded out the top contenders, while British players reached notable milestones, including Kyle Edmund's semifinal appearance as the first Briton to do so since 1938. The tournament highlighted Federer's enduring dominance at age 36, culminating in his sixth title and becoming the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Early rounds saw several upsets that reshaped the draw, including 19th seed Tomas Berdych's straight-sets victory over sixth seed in the third round, marking Berdych's first quarterfinal appearance since 2015. Eighth seed fell to Hyeon Chung in the fourth round, allowing the 21-year-old South Korean to become the first man from his country to reach the quarterfinals at . Federer navigated a tough path, dropping just one set en route to the semifinals, where he defeated compatriot 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-2, avenging his loss to Wawrinka in the 2017 Indian Wells final. , the 2014 US Open champion and sixth seed, advanced steadily, including a comeback win over seventh seed in the quarterfinals, 4-6, 7-6(7-1), 6-4, 7-6(8-6). The semifinals featured Federer overcoming Berdych 6-7(1-7), 7-6(7-4), 6-4, 6-2 in a rematch of their 2015 US Open final, while Čilić upset 6-3, 7-6(7-4), 6-3 to reach his first final. In the final on January 28 at , Federer defeated Čilić 6-2, 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in a five-set battle lasting 2 hours and 32 minutes, marked by short rallies averaging under four shots per point, the shortest in an final since 2001. Čilić struggled with a blister on his left foot that required treatment and visibly affected his movement in the deciding set, where Federer converted four of five break points to secure the victory. This triumph not only marked Federer's 20th major title but also his 97th career ATP singles title, reinforcing his status as the oldest man to win the in the Open Era at 36 years and 173 days. The event awarded 2000 ranking points and A$2.97 million to the winner, underscoring its prestige as the first Grand Slam of the year.

Women's Singles

The 2018 Australian Open women's singles featured a 128-player single-elimination draw played over best-of-three sets on outdoor hard courts at from January 15 to 28. Unseeded of entered after a strong season but faced a competitive field led by world No. 1 of , with second seed Wozniacki aiming for her first Grand Slam title. Notable upsets included the early exit of third seed in the second round to and fourth seed losing in the third round to Anastasija Sevastova. Wozniacki survived a scare in the second round, saving two match points against qualifier Danielle Collins to win 3–6, 7–5, 7–5, before advancing steadily with wins over , Magdalena Rybarikova, and Danielle Rose Collins again in later rounds. Halep, the top seed, powered through the draw, defeating in the fourth round, in the quarterfinals 6–3, 7–6(7–4), and Karolina Plíšková in the semifinals 6–4, 6–3. Wozniacki reached her first major final since 2010 by beating 6–3, 7–6(7–2) in the semifinals. In the final on January 27 at , Wozniacki defeated Halep 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4 in a 2-hour 49-minute match, securing her maiden Grand Slam title and reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. The victory came after 43 Grand Slam main draw appearances for Wozniacki, highlighting her resilience in baseline rallies. The champion earned 2000 ranking points and A$2.97 million.

Men's Doubles

The 2018 Australian Open men's doubles tournament consisted of a 64-team draw in a knockout format, played best-of-three sets on outdoor hard courts from January 17 to 27. Seventh seeds Oliver Marach of and of entered as strong contenders after reaching the 2017 US Open final, facing a field including defending champions Henri Kontinen and . Early upsets saw top seeds and exit in the second round to and , while fourth seeds and fell in the quarterfinals. Marach and Pavić advanced steadily, defeating eighth seeds and in the quarterfinals 6–4, 6–4, and second seeds Kontinen and Peers in the semifinals 6–4, 3–6, 6–4. In the final on January 27 at , Marach and Pavić defeated eleventh seeds and of 6–4, 6–4 in 1 hour and 29 minutes, securing their first Grand Slam title as a team. Pavić's victory marked his first major doubles crown, while Marach claimed his maiden Grand Slam. The pair's strong serving and net play dominated, converting key breaks in both sets. The champions each received 1000 ranking points and A$745,000 shared.

Women's Doubles

The 2018 Australian Open women's doubles event featured a 64-team single-elimination draw played best-of-three sets on hard courts from January 17 to 26. Fifth seeds Tímea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France, who had won the 2017 French Open mixed doubles together, entered as favorites alongside top pairs like defending champions Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Šafářová. The draw saw upsets including the third seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, 2016 Olympic gold medalists, advancing as lower seeds after a strong run. Babos and Mladenovic progressed with wins over wildcard pairs and reached the semifinals, where they defeated Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková and Barbora Strýcová 6–4, 6–3. In the final on January 26, Babos and Mladenovic defeated Makarova and Vesnina 6–4, 6–3 in straight sets lasting 1 hour and 28 minutes, claiming their first Grand Slam women's doubles title as a duo. Mladenovic's powerful groundstrokes and Babos's net skills proved decisive, breaking serve twice in each set. This victory marked Babos's second major women's doubles title and Mladenovic's third. The champions earned 1000 ranking points each and shared A$745,000.

Mixed Doubles

The mixed doubles event at the 2018 Australian Open featured 32 teams competing in a knockout format, with matches played as best-of-three sets and a championship tiebreak to 10 points played in lieu of a third set when necessary. This shorter draw, typically spanning the second week of the tournament, highlighted the unique collaboration between male and female players, drawing entries from established doubles specialists and occasional singles crossovers. The eighth-seeded pairing of Canada's and Croatia's entered as contenders, leveraging their prior Grand Slam success, while top seeds of and of were favored to advance deep. Dabrowski and Pavić navigated a steady path to the title, beginning with a straight-sets victory over wild cards and Alex Bolt in the first round, followed by another 2-0 win against and in the second round. In the quarterfinals, they dispatched Johanna Larsson and 6-4, 7-5, maintaining momentum into the semifinals where they upset the third seeds, of and of , 7-6(7-3), 6-4, to reach their second consecutive Grand Slam final as a team. This semifinal triumph eliminated a formidable pair known for their strong serving and net play, underscoring the champions' tactical adaptability in mixed pairings. In the final on January 28, 2018, at , Dabrowski and Pavić came from behind to defeat the fifth seeds, Hungary's and India's , 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 in the match tiebreak. The opening set saw Babos and Bopanna dominate with aggressive returns, but the eighth seeds regrouped in the second, breaking serve to force the decider, where they clinched the super tiebreak on their fourth . This victory marked Pavić's second career Grand Slam title—following his 2016 US Open win with —and completed a rare doubles sweep for him, as he also captured the men's doubles crown earlier in the tournament alongside Oliver Marach. For Dabrowski, it was her second consecutive Grand Slam title, after partnering to the 2017 crown, highlighting her prowess in the discipline across different partners.

Junior Championships

Boys' Singles

The Boys' Singles tournament at the 2018 Australian Open featured players under 18 years of age, with all matches played as best-of-three sets on outdoor hard courts at . The event followed a 64-player single-elimination draw, including qualifiers, and concluded on January 27 amid warm summer conditions. In the final, seventh-seeded Sebastian Korda of the United States defeated sixth-seeded Chun Hsin Tseng of Chinese Taipei, 7–6(6), 6–4. Korda, a 17-year-old from Bradenton, Florida, fired nine aces and 34 winners while converting 15 of 20 net points to secure the straight-sets victory after saving an early break point. This triumph marked a significant family milestone, occurring exactly 20 years after his father, Petr Korda, won the men's singles title at the 1998 Australian Open. Korda's path to the title included wins over higher seeds in the later rounds, showcasing his aggressive baseline game and serve under pressure. The victory earned him 375 ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors ranking points, boosting his standing in the junior circuit.

Girls' Singles

The Girls' Singles tournament at the was contested from 20 to 27 January on outdoor hard courts at , featuring a 64-player draw played in a best-of-three sets format typical for junior events. The event showcased emerging talents, with the final held on 27 January under the lights on Court 3. Second seed Liang En-shuo of Chinese Taipei claimed the title, defeating unseeded Clara Burel of France 6–3, 6–4 in the championship match. Liang, aged 17, dominated the final with consistent baseline play and strong serving, converting four of five break points to secure victory in 64 minutes after taking an early 4–1 lead in the second set. This win made her the first Taiwanese player to capture a junior Grand Slam singles crown, a historic milestone for Chinese Taipei tennis. En route to the final, Liang navigated a competitive path, including a straight-sets quarterfinal victory over eighth seed Clara Tauson of Denmark. The draw featured notable upsets in earlier rounds, such as Burel's semifinal upset of top seed of 6–3, 6–4, which propelled the French teenager into her first major junior final. The defending champion, of , did not participate, having earned a wildcard into the senior main draw. Both finalists transitioned successfully to the professional circuit, with Burel achieving a career-high WTA ranking of No. 42 in June 2024 and winning multiple ITF titles, while Liang achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 85 in 2025 and won a WTA 125 doubles title.

Boys' Doubles

The boys' doubles event at the 2018 Australian Open featured 32 teams competing in a knockout format on outdoor hard courts at . Matches were played as best-of-three sets, with a championship tiebreak played to 10 points in place of a third set if necessary, in line with ITF junior Grand Slam regulations. The tournament showcased a mix of international partnerships, including the top-seeded duo of Sebastian Baez from and Thiago from , highlighting the global diversity among junior players. In the final on January 27, seventh seeds Hugo Gaston and Clément Tabur of France defeated the unseeded German pair Rudolf Molleker and Henri Squire, 6–2, 6–2. Gaston and Tabur, who had advanced past pairs including the American-Colombian team of Sebastian Korda and Nicolás Mejía in the quarterfinals, demonstrated strong synergy as compatriots to claim their first junior Grand Slam title together. This all-French victory marked the first time a French duo had won the boys' doubles at the Australian Open. The runners-up Molleker and , both from , had a solid run, notably upsetting higher seeds en route to the championship match, underscoring the competitive depth in the draw. Other notable international teams included the Romanian-Argentine pairing of Filip Cristian Jianu and , who reached the semifinals before falling to Gaston and Tabur. The event concluded the junior championships, with Gaston and Tabur's success foreshadowing their later appearances in professional circuits.

Girls' Doubles

The girls' doubles competition at the 2018 Australian Open Junior Championships featured top young talents competing on outdoor hard courts at from January 20 to 27. As the top seeds, from and from dominated the draw, securing the title in a match that highlighted their strong partnership and tactical prowess. This victory marked Liang's first junior Grand Slam doubles crown, complementing her singles triumph earlier the same day, while for Wang, it was her debut junior major doubles title following a quarterfinal appearance in the girls' singles event. Liang and Wang advanced through the tournament with relative ease, dropping just one set across their four matches prior to the final. In the round of 16, they defeated Zala Branković and Alexandra Poulos 6–2, 6–1; in the quarterfinals, they overcame Dalayna Hewitt and Mariam Bolkvadze 6–3, 6–4; and in the semifinals, they dispatched Yuki Naito and Naho Sato 6–3, 6–2. Their path showcased consistent serving and net play, allowing them to control points against lower-seeded opponents without extending to deciders until the championship match. The final on January 27 was contested as a best-of-three sets match with a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set if necessary. Facing seventh seeds Violet Apisah from and Lulu Sun from , Liang and Wang prevailed 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 10–5 in a competitive encounter that tested their resilience. Apisah and Sun, who had upset higher seeds earlier, pushed the top duo to a tiebreak in the opener and stole the second set, but Liang and Wang regrouped to dominate the match tiebreak, clinching the title on their fourth championship point. This result underscored the growing depth in junior women's doubles, with the champions' win preventing an pair from claiming the trophy.

Wheelchair Championships

Men's Singles

The men's wheelchair singles event at the 2018 Australian Open featured an 8-player single-elimination draw played best-of-three sets on outdoor hard courts at , with the event running from January 25 to 28. Top seed Stéphane Houdet of , the 2017 finalist, advanced to the final but was defeated by fifth seed of 6–4, 1–6, 7–6(7–3) to claim Kunieda's first Australian Open singles title and fifth career Grand Slam singles crown. Kunieda, who had won the earlier in the year, demonstrated resilience by coming back in the deciding set tiebreak, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking after the tournament. Houdet, seeking his third major singles title, started strongly but struggled with consistency in the third set. Other notable performances included Gustavo Fernández of reaching the semifinals before losing to Kunieda, and Joachim Gérard of advancing to the quarterfinals. The event highlighted the competitive depth in men's , contributing to the discipline's growing prominence.

Women's Singles

The women's wheelchair singles event at the 2018 Australian Open featured a draw of eight players, following the standard single-elimination format used in the men's wheelchair singles, with matches played on hard courts at . The ran from January 22 to January 28, culminating in the final on January 28. Second seed of the defeated top seed and defending champion Yui Kamiji of in the final, 7–6(8–6), 6–4, to claim her first singles title and second career Grand Slam singles crown. De Groot, who had won the 2017 US Open, showcased her rising dominance by not dropping a single set throughout the , including straight-set victories in the quarterfinals over Lucy Shuker and the semifinals over Aniek van Koot. This performance marked a breakthrough for the 22-year-old Dutch player, who ascended to world No. 1 in rankings later that year following additional titles at the Cajun Classic and other events. Kamiji, seeking to extend her reign after capturing the title against Jiske Griffioen, entered as the clear favorite but fell short in a tightly contested final that highlighted the intense rivalry between the two top players. The Japanese star, who had previously won three consecutive Grand Slam singles titles from 2014 to 2015, demonstrated resilience by forcing a tiebreak in the opening set but ultimately succumbed to de Groot's consistent baseline play and net approaches. The event offered scaled-down prize money compared to the able-bodied competitions. Other notable performances included Griffioen reaching the quarterfinals before a loss to Kamiji, underscoring the depth of the field despite de Groot's unbeaten run. The tournament's success contributed to growing visibility for , with de Groot's victory signaling the start of her era of sustained excellence in the discipline.

Quad Singles

The Quad Singles event at the 2018 Australian Open featured four players— (), (), (), and ()—competing in a round-robin format followed by a final, with all matches played as best-of-three sets. In the round-robin stage, top seed Wagner went undefeated with three wins to finish first, while Alcott secured second place with two victories and one loss, advancing both to the final. Lapthorne and Davidson each recorded one win. On January 27, Alcott defeated Wagner 7–6(7–1), 6–1 in the final on to claim the title, marking his fourth consecutive Quad Singles championship and solidifying his dominance as the world No. 1. This home-soil victory for the Melbourne native drew strong local support, highlighting the event's growing popularity in . Quad Singles was introduced to the Australian Open in 2006 as part of the tournament's expansion of categories, providing a dedicated competition for players with impairments affecting all four limbs. Since then, the event has contributed to the broader development of quad , increasing participation and visibility at Grand Slams while maintaining a compact field to accommodate the specialized nature of the discipline.

Men's Doubles

The men's wheelchair doubles competition at the 2018 Australian Open consisted of 8 teams and followed a best-of-three sets format with no-ad scoring. In the final on January 26, 2018, France's Stéphane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer defeated Great Britain's top-seeded defending champions and 6–4, 6–2 in 1 hour and 21 minutes. The match marked the fourth consecutive Grand Slam doubles final between the two pairs, with Houdet and Peifer improving their head-to-head record to 11–5 overall and securing the title in straight sets despite Hewett and committing 30 unforced errors. This win represented Houdet's fifth men's wheelchair doubles title, following previous successes in the event, and highlighted the French duo's dominance in the discipline during that era. Hewett, who had reached the singles semifinals, and were notable for their consistent Grand Slam presence, though rain delays earlier in the day affected the schedule before the final proceeded uninterrupted.

Women's Doubles

The women's doubles event at the 2018 featured 8 teams in a single-elimination draw held at . Top seeds Marjolein Buis of the and Yui Kamiji of delivered a dominant performance, winning the title without dropping a set throughout the tournament. Buis and Kamiji claimed the championship on January 26, 2018, defeating the second-seeded Dutch pair and Aniek van Koot 6–0, 6–4 in the final. This victory marked their second women's wheelchair doubles title as a team, following their 2016 success. Kamiji, who also reached the women's wheelchair singles final earlier in the week but fell to de Groot 7–6(8–6), 6–4, partnered with Buis to showcase their strong synergy and tactical prowess on the court.

Quad Doubles

The Quad Doubles competition at the 2018 Australian Open was contested by 8 teams of players with quadriplegia or equivalent impairments affecting all four limbs, with the event open to qualified entrants worldwide. Matches followed the standard ITF wheelchair tennis format, including no-ad scoring in decisive games and a tiebreak in the third set if necessary. The draw progressed through quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final, showcasing high-level team coordination essential to quad doubles play. In the final on January 25, 2018, Australian duo and Heath Davidson defeated the defending champions, Great Britain's Andrew Lapthorne and the ' David Wagner, 6–0, 6–7(5), 10–6. This marked the first Grand Slam doubles title for both Alcott and Davidson, with Alcott leveraging his strong baseline game and Davidson providing effective net coverage to secure the win. The victory completed Alcott's sweep of the quad titles at the tournament, following his singles success earlier that week.

Notable Aspects

Attendance and Viewership

The 2018 Australian Open achieved a record total attendance of 743,667 spectators over its 14-day duration, surpassing the previous year's figure of 728,763 and marking an increase of approximately 2%. This milestone reflected growing global interest in the tournament, with fans filling venues like to capacity on multiple occasions. The peak daily attendance occurred on Coopers Saturday, drawing 87,438 visitors, the highest single-day/night crowd in the event's history at the time. Ticket sales from this record turnout were a primary revenue driver, contributing significantly to the tournament's funding, including the elevated prize money pool of A$55 million—a 10% increase from 2017—which supported higher payouts for players across all rounds. In terms of viewership, the tournament was broadcast in over 220 regions worldwide, reaching nearly 900 million households and setting a new high for global accessibility. Domestically in Australia, the cumulative television audience totaled 11.3 million viewers. The men's singles final featuring and Marin Čilić averaged 2.3 million viewers with a peak of 3.3 million, while the women's final between and averaged 1.4 million viewers, peaking at 2 million—both capturing substantial shares of the metro audience.

Records and Milestones

won his sixth Australian Open men's singles title and a record-extending 20th Grand Slam singles title by defeating 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 in the final, becoming the first man in the Open Era to reach that milestone. At 36 years and 173 days old during the final, Federer also became the oldest man to win the Australian Open in the Open Era. Following his Australian Open triumph, Federer reclaimed the ATP world No. 1 ranking for a record seventh time at age 36, surpassing Andre Agassi's previous mark as the oldest player to hold the top spot. In the women's singles, claimed her first Grand Slam title after reaching two previous finals (2009 US Open and 2014 US Open), defeating 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4 in the championship match. Mate Pavić achieved a rare doubles double by winning the men's doubles title with Oliver Marach (6–4, 6–4 over and ) on January 27 and the mixed doubles title with (2–6, 6–4, 11–9 over and ) the following day. The 2018 edition marked the 31st Australian Open held at Melbourne Park since the tournament relocated there in 1988. In the men's singles final, Federer mounted a comeback after dropping the second and fourth sets to Čilić, ultimately dominating the decisive fifth set 6–1 to secure the victory.

Weather Impacts

The 2018 Australian Open was significantly impacted by a two-day heatwave in on 18 and 19 , with temperatures reaching a peak of 40.2°C (104.4°F) on the second day. This extreme heat, exacerbated by the hard court's retention of warmth, dominated the environmental conditions throughout the tournament, while and remained minimal and had negligible effects. Although the Extreme Heat Policy (EHP) was not formally triggered—due to the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index peaking at 31.1, below the 32.5 threshold required alongside temperatures over 40°C—no roofs were closed on main courts, and play proceeded on all courts without suspensions or delays. Organizers instead emphasized player acclimatization and standard hydration protocols, as the policy's binary activation criteria prevented broader interventions like mandatory 10-minute cooling breaks, which were not implemented under the pre-2019 guidelines. The heat profoundly affected player performance, leading to widespread fatigue and physical strain; for instance, world No. 1 endured a grueling 3-hour-45-minute third-round match against on 19 January, pushing her endurance limits in the blistering conditions. Similarly, and expressed severe exhaustion after their 18 January matches, with Monfils describing the heat as debilitating and Djokovic noting breathing difficulties. French player collapsed from during her match and required medical attention, highlighting the risks on outer courts. Player dissatisfaction with the EHP's rigidity prompted vocal complaints, including from , who deemed the conditions "dangerous" and advocated for a revised threshold, and Djokovic, who criticized the sport's prioritization of player welfare. In response, tournament officials announced a post-event review of the in consultation with players and stakeholders, which ultimately contributed to the introduction of a more nuanced Heat Stress Scale in 2019.

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