It’s that time of year, pretty much the only time of the year, when Chris O’Neil’s and Mark Edmondson’s names are back up in lights.
But, like most long-suffering Australian fans , O’Neil and Edmondson would doubtless be happy to see themselves wiped from the record books as the last locals to win the Australian Open women’s and men’s singles crowns.
As the country’s first top seed in the women’s event since Dianne Fromholtz 43 years ago, Ashleigh Barty will carry the hopes of the nation when she launches her title quest on Monday night.
The world No.1 opens against Ukrainian veteran Lesia Tsurenko, a vastly superior performer than her current ranking of 120th reflects.
Barty’s path to potential glory could be littered with second-week obstacles, should the French Open champion match her run to the quarter-finals last year.
The 23-year-old may have to beat Petra Kvitova, her 2019 quarter-final conqueror, and defending champion Naomi Osaka or 23-time major winner Serena Williams in successive matches just to make it to the championship decider.
Australia’s singles title drought now stretches 42 years since O’Neil won the women’s event and 44 years since Edmondson lifted the men’s trophy.
Getting their hands on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup or Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup has proven a bridge too far for the country’s brightest stars over the past four decades.
No Aussie woman has made a final since Wendy Turnbull lost to Hana Mandlikova in 1980, with Alicia Molik (2005), Jelena Dokic (2009) and Barty’s charges to the last eight as good it’s got in recent years.
John Marks (1978) and Kim Warwick (1980) both lost men’s title deciders before Pat Cash suffered back-to-back five-set final heartbreakers to Swedish legends Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander in 1987 and 1988.
Top seed in 2002 and 2003, Lleyton Hewitt was unable to even reach the quarters before falling at the last hurdle against Marat Safin 15 years ago.
With Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur withdrawing injured, perennial hope Nick Kyrgios once again looms as the country’s best chance to break the men’s drought.
Barty is among nine locals in action on Monday, along with veteran Samantha Stosur, wildcards Lizette Cabrera, Andrew Harris, John-Patrick Smith, Marc Polmans, qualifier Max Purcell and Davis Cup stars Jordan Thompson and John Millman.
Osaka, Williams, men’s defending champion Novak Djokovic and the great Roger Federer are among the international superstars in action as the game’s biggest and best fight it out for a record $71 million in prize money.
