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ICONIC PLAYERS20 champions who’ve made history at the Australian Open

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The tennis version of the old Italian proverb ‘See Rome and die’ would be ‘See Roger Federer and die’. No champion has played a more beautiful brand of tennis than the Swiss wonder. And – the hallmark of genius – Federer makes it all look blissfully easy.

Peers, the public, the media, celebrity fashionistas and pop stars, even former greats (the line starts with Rod Laver) are reduced to gushing fans by the artful Roger. No champion has been so universally admired and adored. Searching for superlatives, commentators often describe Federer as a maestro or a master; our sport’s Mozart and Monet.

Is Roger also the GOAT – the greatest of all time? For many, Federer settled the debate with a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon 2009, on top of his French Open win weeks before, which completed his conquest of all the Grand Slam centre courts. At age 27, he bettered the previous benchmark of 14 Slams set by Pete Sampras, and his sweep of all four majors was a feat beyond the decade-older American, who never reached the final at Roland Garros.

No one could have imagined, on the night of the 2009 Australian Open final, as a sobbing Federer was consoled by his conqueror Rafael Nadal, who crushed him 6–2 in the fifth, that it would be the teary Swiss rather than the triumphant Spaniard, on the cusp of a banner year. After all, the rampaging Rafa had by then stripped Federer of his Wimbledon, Australian and world No.1 titles, and was an Olympic singles gold medallist to boot – a prize notably absent from the glittering Federer resume. But physical and personal woes conspired against Nadal through the rest of 2009. Federer meanwhile rebounded from that tough loss to secure his long-elusive first French title on his 11th attempt, win a sixth Wimbledon final in a 16–14-in-the-fifth cliffhanger over Andy Roddick, and reclaim his No.1 ranking. In between serving up wonders on the court, Federer multitasked with marriage and fatherhood.

Leading Grand Slammer; only man to win 50 matches and play five finals at Melbourne Park

Roger Federer

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Roger Federer, 2010 Australian Open men’s singles champion, in action at the tournament (left), and with the Norman Brookes challenge cup (above).

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The Official Australian Open BookAustralia’s Greatest Global Sporting Event

Written by:Alan Trengove, Suzi Patkovski, Charlotte James, Darren Saligari

“I was completey enthralled, knowing I’d found the right sport - and the right time to report on it”

—Alan Tengrove

Did you know...

• The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tournament in the world that has an Extreme Heat Policy.

• Australia was the last of the Grand Slams to stage an all-Williams final in 2003.

• In 1996 the Australian Open was granted the same amount of ranking points as the other three majors - Wimbledon and the French and US Opens.

From on-court drama to behind- the- scenes insights, The Australian Open Book provides a comprehensive overview of the tournament. It is a must-have for any tennis fan, or anyone who wants to learn a little more about this amazing event. From the prestige, the prize money and spectators to the celebrities and the fashion, you will not miss a single detail.

Join Suzi Patkovski, a respected tennis writer for Inside Sport magazine, among other publications, as she pays tribute to the 20 most influential players of The Australian Open, including last year’s champion— the only man to win 50 matches and play five finals at Melbourne Park, Roger Federer. After Federer losing this year to current champion Novak Djokovic, who can predict what will happen next year?

Follow the history of The Australian Open from its beginnings as an Australasian tournament staged first in 1905 to its current incarnation as the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific. Experience some of the memorable moments, including the tears, tantrums and tri-umphs of the players. Enter into the locker rooms, media rooms and even into the minds of the players as they prepare for these career defining matches.

With 208 pages of amazing images and action shots, The Australian Open Book will provide you with all the ins and outs of this major sporting event, making you the expert the next time it comes around.

To preview some internal pages:http://ausopenbook.realviewtechnologies.com/

The Official Australian Open BookAustralia’s Greatest Global Sporting Event

Extent: Dimensions: Illustrations: Format: RRP:

Carton Size: Qty/Carton: Weight/Carton:

208 pages270 mm x 230 mm 200 + colour throughout Hardcover AUD$59.99- now $49.99 on our website!479 x 285 x 138mm (LxWxH)12 copies14.8kg