By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Gilles Simon will carry the distinction of being the first man to prise a set off Novak Djokovic at this year’s Australian Open but the lion-hearted Frenchman was crushed after going down in a five-set classic on Sunday. Simon played a sublime match, returning with venom and scrambling hard for every ball before the defending champion and world number one found another gear to close it out 6-3 6-7(1) 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the twilight at Rod Laver Arena. “It’s always a bad feeling when you lose in five,” 31-year-old Simon told reporters. “Always like when you play so long, you feel so many things are happening on the court. “So many things could have been different. Just couldn’t make it today.” Djokovic racked up exactly 100 unforced errors and a video review of some of his drop-shot attempts would make painful viewing for the Serb. But the statistic was testament to Simon’s counter-punching game and proof that his plan to beat Djokovic was sound, if not successful, the Frenchman said. “I know exactly what I was doing, but I won’t say it. I had a plan. I mean, I know him well,” he said. “We all know which player he is and how hard it is to find any solution against him, to somehow stop the fight and feel better on the court. “I think I worked on it good today. He made 100 unforced. That’s a good number for me, not for him. But fortunately one more time was not enough.” Although pushing the Serb, Simon was often unable to conjure the killer blows needed on the big points and admitted he was up against it without the power hitting of a player like Stan Wawrinka, who upset five-times Melbourne Park champion Djokovic on the way to the 2014 title. “I have to find my own way to do it. Like I wish I could hit like Stan, but that’s far from being the case,” he added. “I know a lot of players wanted me to win this match. A lot of players will feel better with Novak out of the draw. “He’s improving year after year. That’s terrible to say because he’s already number one.” (Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Nick Mulvenney) 

Sublime Gilles Simon fought a brilliant match against winner Djokovic, making
him fight for each point.

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Serbia's Djokovic and France's Simon shake hands at the net after Djokovic won their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park

Simple Simon plan almost did for Djokovic

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<h2><strong>Australian Open: Latest News, Results and Records</strong></h2>
The Australian Open is the youngest of all the Grand Slams, having first started in 1905.

The tournament holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event, where 743,667 people attended during the 2018 edition of the Australian Open. It also has the honor of being the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat.

There are three main courts, the Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne Arena and the Margaret Court Arena. Aside from that, they have courts 7 to 15 and even court 19 and 20. The tournament first became open to all from 1969 onwards, a year after the remaining 3 did so.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-136876 size-full" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ao-4.jpg" alt="" width="3000" height="2000" />
<h2><strong>Records</strong></h2>
<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/novak-djokovic/">Novak Djokovic</a> is the most successful player of the Australian Open in the Open era. The Serbian star has clinched eight Australian Open titles.

In the women's side of the game, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/serena-williams/">Serena Williams</a> is the most successful player with seven titles to her credit. Again, this was set in the Open era. Overall, Williams is still four behind tennis legend Margaret Court.

The youngest winner in the men's singles game was Australian player Ken Rosewall. Meanwhile, on the women's side, it was Martina Hingis. The players were 18 years, 2 months and 16 years, 4 months old respectively.

With regard to the oldest players, Rosewall bagged this crown at the aged 37 years and 2 months. However, if <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/roger-federer/">Roger Federer</a> wins the Australian Open, he could overtake Rosewall. In the women's side of the game, Thelma Long was the oldest winner at 35 years and 8 months.
<h2>Australian Open 2021 Plans</h2>
The two Grand Slams held after the Australian Open 2020 saw major changes than usual. The <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/us-open-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">US Open 2020</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/french-open-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">French Open 2020</a> were held inside a bio-secure bubble on account of the complications arising due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The US Open 2020 was held behind closed doors, while the French Open 2020 saw just 1000 spectators allowed inside the Roland Garros fields.

Australian Open organizers are planning to allow 50 percent of the seats to be filled by fans. This is subject to government clearance. They also <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/that-wont-happen-australian-open-2021-proposes-to-relax-strict-quarantine-measures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">plan</a> on introducing relaxations on a lot of the quarantine restrictions the players had in Paris and New York.

While the 14-day quarantine will be there on arrival at Melbourne Park, there is expected to be some freedom for players and their team members.

Australian Open 2021 is expected to be held from January 18-31, 2021.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99443" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Australian_Open_logo.svg_.png" alt="" width="1280" height="458" />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Edition</b></td>
<td>108th
Open Era (52nd)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Current Prize Money</b></td>
<td>$4.5 million (men's and women's champion)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Number of Entries (Main Draw)</strong></td>
<td>128</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Current Champions</b></td>
<td><strong>Men's Si</strong><strong style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">ngles</strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;"> - Novak Djokovic</span>

<strong>Women's Singles</strong> - Sofia Kenin

<strong>Men's Doubles</strong> - Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury

<strong>Women's Doubles</strong> - Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic

<strong>Mixed Doubles</strong> - Barbora Krejčíková/Nikola Mektic</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Most Titles</b></td>
<td><strong>Men's Singles</strong> - Novak Djokovic (8)

<strong>Women's Singles</strong> - Margaret Court (11)

<strong>Men's Doubles</strong> - Adrian Quist (10)

<strong>Women's Doubles</strong> - Thelma Coyne Long (12)

<strong>Mixed Doubles</strong> - Harry Hopman, Colin Long, Daphne Akhurst Cozens, Nell Hall Hopman, Nancye Wynne Bolton, Thelma Coyne Long (4)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Australian Open

Australian Open: Latest News, Results and Records The Australian Open is the youngest of all the Grand Slams, having first started in 1905. The tournament holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event, where 743,667 people attended during the 2018 edition of the Australian Open. It also has the honor of being the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat. There are three main courts, the Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne Arena and the Margaret Court Arena. Aside from that, they have courts 7 to 15 and even court 19 and 20. The tournament first became open to all from 1969 onwards, a year after the remaining 3 did so. Records Novak Djokovic is the most successful player of the Australian Open in the Open era. The Serbian star has clinched eight Australian Open titles. In the women&#8217;s side of the game, Serena Williams is the most successful player with seven titles to her credit. Again, this was set in the Open era. Overall, Williams is still four behind tennis legend Margaret Court. The youngest winner in the men&#8217;s singles game was Australian player Ken Rosewall. Meanwhile, on the women&#8217;s side, it was Martina Hingis. The players were 18 years, 2 months and 16 years, 4 months old respectively. With regard to the oldest players, Rosewall bagged this crown at the aged 37 years and 2 months. However, if Roger Federer wins the Australian Open, he could overtake Rosewall. In the women&#8217;s side of the game, Thelma Long was the oldest winner at 35 years and 8 months. Australian Open 2021 Plans The two Grand Slams held after the Australian Open 2020 saw major changes than usual. The US Open 2020 and French Open 2020 were held inside a bio-secure bubble on account of the complications arising due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US Open 2020 was held behind closed doors, while the French Open 2020 saw just 1000 spectators allowed inside the Roland Garros fields. Australian Open organizers are planning to allow 50 percent of the seats to be filled by fans. This is subject to government clearance. They also plan on introducing relaxations on a lot of the quarantine restrictions the players had in Paris and New York. While the 14-day quarantine will be there on arrival at Melbourne Park, there is expected to be some freedom for players and their team members. Australian Open 2021 is expected to be held from January 18-31, 2021.   Edition 108th Open Era (52nd)  Current Prize Money $4.5 million (men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s champion)  Number of Entries (Main Draw) 128  Current Champions Men&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Novak Djokovic Women&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Sofia Kenin Men&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury Women&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic Mixed Doubles &#8211; Barbora Krejčíková/Nikola Mektic  Most Titles Men&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Novak Djokovic (8) Women&#8217;s Singles &#8211; Margaret Court (11) Men&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Adrian Quist (10) Women&#8217;s Doubles &#8211; Thelma Coyne Long (12) Mixed Doubles &#8211; Harry Hopman, Colin Long, Daphne Akhurst Cozens, Nell Hall Hopman, Nancye Wynne Bolton, Thelma Coyne Long (4)

Australian Open Archives

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<strong>History</strong>

The sport of tennis is said to originate from the 12th century in France. However, at that time, players were using their palms to hit the ball. From the 16th century onwards, rackets began to be put in use.

But it was only from the 19th century onwards that it became a serious game. A typical tennis match consists of games. Players score 15 points to 30 points to 40 points and finally a game. In the event of 40-40, also known as a deuce, a player has to gain an advantage and win the next point to win the game.

The first to reach 6 games with a minimum gap of 2 games wins a set. However, if one player wins 6 games and the other wins 5, the leading player has to win a 7th game before his opponent. In the event of six games all, on certain occasions, a tiebreak is played until a player either reaches 6 games or wins by 2 games if both reach 6 games.

Coming to sets, there are 2 types of matches, 3-set matches and 5-set matches. In the event of the former, if a player earns 2 set wins, he or she wins the match. In the latter's case, it is a case of a player winning at least 3 sets.

<img class="size-full wp-image-108658 aligncenter" src="http://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/tennis-court-us-open.gif" alt="Psychology of Tennis" width="600" height="353" />

There are various tennis tournaments held throughout the year. But the ultimate tournaments are known as Grand Slams. There are four main Grand Slams held every year. In chronological order, they are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Out of the four, Wimbledon is the oldest, first being held in 1877. The Australian Open is the youngest, first being held in 1905.

With regard to players, Margaret Court holds the record for the most Grand Slam wins for women. In the men's section, it is Roger Federer.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Maximum Number of Players on Court</strong></td>
<td width="319">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Number of Grand Slams per Year</strong></td>
<td width="319">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Maximum Number of Grand Slams Won by a Male</strong></td>
<td width="319">20 (Roger Federer)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Maximum Number of Grand Slams Won by a Female </strong></td>
<td width="319">24 (Margaret Court)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

History The sport of tennis is said to originate from the 12th century in France. However, at that time, players were using their palms to hit the ball. From the 16th century onwards, rackets began to be put in use. But it was only from the 19th century onwards that it became a serious game. A typical tennis match consists of games. Players score 15 points to 30 points to 40 points and finally a game. In the event of 40-40, also known as a deuce, a player has to gain an advantage and win the next point to win the game. The first to reach 6 games with a minimum gap of 2 games wins a set. However, if one player wins 6 games and the other wins 5, the leading player has to win a 7th game before his opponent. In the event of six games all, on certain occasions, a tiebreak is played until a player either reaches 6 games or wins by 2 games if both reach 6 games. Coming to sets, there are 2 types of matches, 3-set matches and 5-set matches. In the event of the former, if a player earns 2 set wins, he or she wins the match. In the latter&#8217;s case, it is a case of a player winning at least 3 sets. There are various tennis tournaments held throughout the year. But the ultimate tournaments are known as Grand Slams. There are four main Grand Slams held every year. In chronological order, they are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Out of the four, Wimbledon is the oldest, first being held in 1877. The Australian Open is the youngest, first being held in 1905. With regard to players, Margaret Court holds the record for the most Grand Slam wins for women. In the men&#8217;s section, it is Roger Federer.  Maximum Number of Players on Court 2  Number of Grand Slams per Year 4  Maximum Number of Grand Slams Won by a Male 20 (Roger Federer)  Maximum Number of Grand Slams Won by a Female  24 (Margaret Court)