1972 Australian Open – Men's singles

Men's singles
Men's singles
1972 Australian Open
Final
Champion	Ken Rosewall
Runner-up	Mal Anderson
Score	7–6(7–2), 6–3, 7–5
Details
Draw	50
Seeds	12
Events

Defending champion Ken Rosewall defeated Mal Anderson in the final, 7–6^(7–2), 6–3, 7–5 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1972 Australian Open. It was his eighth and last Grand Slam tournament singles title, and at 37 years, 1 month old, he became the oldest major champion in men's singles in the Open Era.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Ken Rosewall is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

John Newcombe (quarterfinals)
Ken Rosewall (champion)
John Alexander (third round)
Alex Metreveli (semifinals)
Owen Davidson (second round)
Tony Roche (withdrew before the tournament began)
Colin Dibley (third round)
Mal Anderson (finals)
Dick Crealy (quarterfinals)
Allan Stone (semifinals)
John Cooper (quarterfinals)
Geoff Masters (second round)

Draw

Key

Q = Qualifier
WC = Wild card
LL = Lucky loser
r = Retired

Final eight

Quarterfinals							Semifinals						Final

1	John Newcombe	6	3	4	6	7

8	Mal Anderson	2	6	6	3	9
							8	Mal Anderson	6	7	7

							4	Alex Metreveli	2	6	6
11	John Cooper	2	6	4	2

4	Alex Metreveli	6	3	6	6
													8	Mal Anderson	6	3	5

													2	Ken Rosewall	7	6	7
	Barry Phillips-Moore	6	5	6	3

10	Allan Stone	4	7	7	6
							10	Allan Stone	6	1	6	2

							2	Ken Rosewall	7	6	3	6
9	Dick Crealy	3	1	3

2	Ken Rosewall	6	6	6

Section 1

First round						Second round						Third round					Quarterfinals

						1	J Newcombe	6	7	6
	J Bartlett	7	6	6			J Bartlett	2	6	3
	W Durham	6	2	3								1	J Newcombe	6	6	6
	A McDonald	6	6	6									P Dominguez	1	3	1
	S Myers	2	4	4			A McDonald	6	4	3	2
							P Dominguez	4	6	6	6
																	1	J Newcombe	6	3	4	6	7
																	8	M Anderson	2	6	6	3	9
						12	G Masters	5	5	2
	A Hammond	3	3	4			N Fraser	7	7	6
	N Fraser	6	6	6									N Fraser	2	3	1
	W N'Godrella	6	7	3	6							8	M Anderson	6	6	6
	W Coghlan	3	6	6	3		W N'Godrella	4	6	1	3
						8	M Anderson	6	3	6	6

Section 2

First round					Second round						Third round						Quarterfinals

					5	O Davidson	3	6	1	5
	R Casey	1	0	3		F Sedgman	6	1	6	7
	F Sedgman	6	6	6								F Sedgman	6	3	1	3
											11	J Cooper	3	6	6	6
						P Proisy	6	3	4	2
					11	J Cooper	4	6	6	6
																	11	J Cooper	2	6	4	2
	R Case	6	6	6													4	A Metreveli	6	3	6	6
	C Stubs	1	3	1		R Case	6	3	6	7
	B Lloyd	w/o				J Stephens	4	6	2	5
	J Stephens											R Case	2	6	4	2
	M Phillips	4	4	4							4	A Metreveli	6	3	6	6
	K Tanabe	6	6	6		K Tanabe	3	2	2
					4	A Metreveli	6	6	6

Section 3

First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals

							3	J Alexander	6	7	6
	R Rheinberger	w/o						I Fletcher	3	5	4
	I Fletcher													3	J Alexander	3	6	6	6	3
	S Ball	3	7	5	5										B Phillips-Moore	6	1	7	1	6
	J James	6	5	7	7			J James	3	6	3
	R Frawley	3	1	1				B Phillips-Moore	6	7	6
	B Phillips-Moore	6	6	6																		B Phillips-Moore	6	5	6	3
																					10	A Stone	4	7	7	6
							10	A Stone	7	7	6
	A Gardiner	6	2	6				K Warwick	5	5	3
	K Warwick	7	6	7										10	A Stone	6	6	6
	G Thomson	4	6	5	6										M Cocks	1	2	3
	M Cocks	6	4	7	7			M Cocks	6	7	4	1	6
	J Zigmund	3	7	6	4	6		J Zigmund	4	5	6	6	1
	D McCormick	6	6	4	6	2

Section 4

First round						Second round							Third round					Quarterfinals

						7	C Dibley	6	6	7
	P Kronk	5	3	1			M Rose	1	4	6
	M Rose	7	6	6									7	C Dibley	4	6	3
	B Giltinan	6	3	7	6								9	D Crealy	6	7	6
	K Hancock	1	6	5	4		B Giltinan	6	5	1	6	11
						9	D Crealy	1	7	6	4	13
																		9	D Crealy	3	1	3
																		2	K Rosewall	6	6	6
							J-P Meyer	6	2	7	6	8
	C Letcher	6	0	6	6		C Letcher	4	6	6	7	6
	G Perkins	1	6	1	4									J-P Meyer	3	1	3
	J Kuki												2	K Rosewall	6	6	6
	A Haswell	w/o					J Kuki	3	2	1
						2	K Rosewall	6	6	6

External links

Preceded by 1971 U.S. Open	Grand Slam men's singles	Succeeded by 1972 French Open