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Trouble Down Under

Fried Fish: Mardy Fish was a high-profile upset at the Australian Open © Getty Images

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Every grand slam throws up its share of upsets and giant killings: Mardy Fish and Sam Stosur were the high-profile upsets in the opening round of the 2012 Australian Open. We take a look at some of the most memorable shocks in Australian Open history.

Safin turns the tables on Federer
In terms of rankings, there were only three places between top seed Roger Federer and fourth seed Marat Safin, but at the height of his powers in 2005, Federer was simply unbeatable. Having won three of the year's previous grand slams, Federer was unbeaten in 26 matches and had beaten the enigmatic Safin six times in their seven previous encounters, including in the 2004 final. But bad-boy Safin was not one to pay attention to custom, and the Russian overpowered the defending champion in an epic five-set battle 5-7 6-4 5-7 7-6(6) 9-7 on his 25th birthday. In a neat twist of irony, Safin remained ice cool throughout, while Federer threw his racket in disgust. "It's like a brain fight against each other. It's Roger Federer, so already psychologically it's really difficult. He puts you under pressure, no matter how many match points you have," Safin said.

Roddick rocked
Seeded second at the 2006 Australian Open in the absence of the injured Rafael Nadal, Roddick was desperately bidding to add another major to the US Open title he won back in 2003. Facing the unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round, Roddick was the red-hot favourite to progress to the quarters, but cheered on by an army of passionate Cypriot supporters, Baghdatis stuck to his game plan to claim a 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-4 victory. To add insult to injury, Roddick's army of scantily-clad female fans were scared away by the decision to close the roof on Rod Laver Arena after temperatures soared. "They close the roof and my fans couldn't sit and sunbathe for me," Roddick said. Baghdatis went on to upset Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian before falling to Roger Federer in the final.

Navratilova's streak ends
Having won the last six grand slam titles, Martina Navratilova was the overwhelming favourite to claim the title at Melbourne Park in 1984. Everything was going to plan when the top seed raced to a 6-1 lead against Helena Sukova in her semi-final, but her 74-match unbeaten streak came to an end as Sukova claimed a shock 1-6 6-3 7-5 victory. Sukova fell to Navratilova's great rival Chris Evert in the final, while Navratilova claimed some consolation with victory in the women's doubles with Pam Shriver.

Lleyton Hewitt dashed Australian hopes of a home champion © PA Photos

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Martin mauls home hope Hewitt
In 2002, world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt became the first top seed to lose in the first round of a grand slam in 12 years as he slumped to an opening round defeat to Spaniard Alberto Martin. Hewitt raced through the opening set, but was helpless to prevent an inspired fightback from the Spaniard, who claimed a 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6(4) victory. "I'm not as disappointed as I might have been because I wasn't 100%," Hewitt said, referring to a recent bout of chickenpox. "I'm not superman, I can't do much about it. It was a dog fight out there for me today."

'I thought I was playing a guy...'
Top seed Lindsay Davenport was firmly on course for a final showdown with two-time defending champion Martina Hingis in 1999, but was ousted by unseeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo. With her one-handed backhand and exceptional power, Mauresmo overpowered her opponent to claim a 4-6 7-5 7-5 victory. "I thought I was playing a guy, the girl was hitting it so hard," Davenport said. "She hits the ball not like any other girl."

Tiger Tim tamed
Eleventh seed Tim Henman looked to be firmly on course for the quarter-finals after winning the opening two sets against Guillermo Canas in his 2004 fourth-round clash. But the unseeded Argentine, ranked at No. 258 in the world, produced a superb comeback to claim a 6-7 5-7 7-6 7-5 9-7 victory in a shade under five hours. "It was probably a good match to watch but it is about winning and losing and unfortunately I came up just short," Henman said.

Masur makes a Wally of Becker
Heading into the 1987 season, the question on everybody's lips, was who could stop Boris Becker? The German had lost just three of his last 47 matches and had strolled to the title at Wimbledon and the US Open. However, the golden boy of men's tennis came unstuck in the fourth round, falling to home favourite Wally Masur, ranked No. 71 in the world, who claimed a shock 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-7 6-2 victory. A furious Becker broke three rackets, hit balls out of the stand and even spat water at the umpire, earning $2000 in fines, and two days later fired long-time coach Gunther Bosch.

Mark Philippoussis was well beaten by Hicham Arazi © Getty Images

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Scud stunned
On Australia Day in 2004, 15,000 expectant tennis fans piled into Rod Laver Arena to see local hero Mark Philippoussis. Australian tennis was flying high, and Philippoussis, affectionately known as Scud, was the hero who clinched the Davis Cup for Australia just two months previously. Playing the little-known Moroccan Hicham Arazi, the tenth seed landed 66% of his first serves, and yet was inexplicably broken five times by the inspired left-hander, who claimed an impressive 6-2 6-2 6-4 victory. Both players had ten break points, but while Arazi converted five, Philippoussis failed to break once, hitting 38 unforced errors to his opponent's 10. "Nothing much I could do," Philippoussis said. "I just have to take my hat off to him, and say, 'too good'."

Capriati claims fairytale victory
Top seed Martina Hingis had lost just one of her previous 35 matches at Melbourne Park and was the overwhelming favourite to claim a fourth Australian Open title against heavy underdog Jennifer Capriati. The Swiss had won all five of their previous encounters and had seen off both Venus and Serena Williams en route to the final, but an inspired Capriati finally fulfilled the potential she showed as a teenager, claiming a 6-4 6-3 victory. "I'm no longer going to doubt myself in anything," she said. "If I can come home with a grand slam, now I know anything is possible."

Flying Fish
Back in 2007, it was Mardy Fish who played the giantkiller, knocking out fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic on the first day of the tournament. Ljubicic had reached the quarter-finals the previous year, but was on red-hot form, having won the Qatar Open two weeks previously. The Croatian looked to be firmly on course for victory after strolling through the opening set, but the then world No. 42 fought back to claim a 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 victory. Fish went on to reach the fourth round, eventually falling to No. 16 seed David Ferrer.

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