Australia Up Close Australian Open Scores Grand Slam With Crowds By DARREN McLEAN	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
内外で盛り上がるテニス全豪大会 テニス4大大会の一つ、全豪オープンが、先月末2週間にわたる激闘を終えました。今年はオーストラリアの選手が、男子ダブルスで優勝するなど、地元選手の活躍が目立ち、観客動員数も過去最高を記録。ほかにもドーピング問題などさまざまな問題がありました

During the last two weeks of January, Australia hosted the first Grand Slam tennis tournament for 1999. Held during Australia's hottest month, the Australian Open combines sporting action, excitement and drama with a carnival atmosphere.

The Australian Open is arguably the most popular international sporting event held in Australia. Offering a prize pool of A$11.75 million (¥881 million), the Open is televised to 700 million homes worldwide. Over 1500 media representatives from 30 countries cover the tournament — the largest media contingent at any Australian sporting event.

It was 18-year-old tennis sensation Martina Hingis who stole the show this year, winning her third consecutive Australian Open ladies singles championship as well as her third consecutive ladies doubles championship. This was her fifth Grand Slam doubles title in a row.

Men's 10th seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov from Russia defeated the big-hitting Swede Thomas Enqvist to take the men's singles championship.

Australia's biggest tournament hope was two-time U.S. Open winner Pat Rafter, ranked fourth in the world. He was bundled out in the third round by finalist Enqvist but gave the Aussie fans plenty to cheer about after winning the men's doubles championship with Swede partner Jonas Bjorkman.

National pride also ran high when Australian Andrew Ilie wrapped himself in an Australian flag to salute his fans after winning his second-round match. After the match Ilie said, "The Australian support was fantastic — without them I wouldn't have won today."

1998 Australian Open Champion Petr Korda returned this year to defend his title amid a major drug controversy. Korda tested positive to a Class I banned steroid after last year's Wimbledon tournament and was ordered to return the U.S.$94,500 (¥11.3 million) in prize money and was stripped of his tour points.

Korda denied ever knowingly taking the drug and for this reason avoided suspension from the International Tennis Federation.

The Association of Tennis Professionals has given its full support for Korda to continue playing despite a call to increase drug abuse penalties from one year to two years. Most players, however, are calling for Korda's suspension. Korda was defeated in the third round of this year's Australian Open.

During the Open all eyes were on Australian young gun Lleyton Hewitt. Hewitt was only 15 years old when he qualified for last year's Australian Open as the youngest player in the tournament's history. Despite a reputation for defeating some of the world's top players, Hewitt bowed out in the second round.

Australia's female rising star 15-year-old Jelena Dokic received enormous support from the crowd as she powered into the third round, where she lost to women's champion Hingis. This year's Australian Open showed the increasing dominance of professional tennis by teenagers.

The history of the Australian Open dates back to 1905 and the tournament has since grown in stature and popularity, both in Australia and internationally. All matches are played at the Melbourne Park Tennis Centre on 24 outdoor and indoor rebound ace courts. The Centre Court seats 15,000 people and has a retractable roof to accommodate all weather conditions.

Nearly half a million people visited the Australian Open over the 14 days of competition, setting a new record for attendance. This is quite a lot when you consider there are only 18 million people in the entire country!

Tournament director Paul McNamee publicly thanked the players, organizers and spectators for making this year's Australian Open such an exciting event. "Thank you to our international visitors and the sporting public of Australia for turning out in the splendid weather to support our Grand Slam," said McNamee.

Even for Australia, which thrives on all varieties of sports, the action and victory of the Australian Open truly grabbed the entire nation's attention.

Shukan ST: Feb. 12, 1999

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