1972 Australian Open – Men's singles

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.

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

Main article: 1972 Australian Open

Seeds

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

1. John Newcombe (quarterfinals)
2. Ken Rosewall (champion)
3. John Alexander (third round)
4. Alex Metreveli (semifinals)
5. Owen Davidson (second round)
6. Tony Roche (withdrew before the tournament began)
7. Colin Dibley (third round)
8. Mal Anderson (finals)
9. Dick Crealy (quarterfinals)
10. Allan Stone (semifinals)
11. John Cooper (quarterfinals)
12. 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

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1972 Australian Open Men's Singles draw
• 1972 Australian Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation

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