held each January at Melbourne Park, Australia

was held for the first time in 1905 and was contested on grass from 1905 through 1987. Since 1988, it has been held on hard courts

Held in the middle of the Australian summer, the Australian Open is famous for its notoriously hot days. An extreme-heat policy is put into play when temperatures (and humidity) reach dangerous levels.

The singles winners in 2009 were Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. In men's doubles, the winners were Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, and in women's doubles, the winners were Serena and Venus Williams.

In 2009, the prize money awarded in the men's and women's singles tournaments was equal and distributed as follows:

• 1st Round: A$19,400
• 2nd Round: A$31,000
• 3rd Round: A$51,000
• 4th Round: A$88,000
• Quarterfinalists: A$182,250
• Semifinalists: A$365,000
• Runners-up: A$1,000,000
• Winners: A$2,000,000 (approx US$1,303,611)