The 2004 Australian Open was a Grand Slam tournament held in Melbourne, Australia 19 January to 1 February, 2004.
Andre Agassi was unsuccessful in defending his 2003 title, being defeated in the semi-finals by Marat Safin. This ended a 26-match winning streak for Agassi at the Australian Open, having previously won in 2000, 2001 and 2003, missing 2002 through injury. Roger Federer won his first Australian Open title, defeating Safin in the final. Serena Williams was unable to defend her 2003 title after withdrawing from the tournament due to a left knee injury. Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated compatriot and rival Kim Clijsters in the final to win her only Australian Open title.
Famous quotes containing the words australian and/or open:
“Each Australian is a Ulysses.”
—Christina Stead (1902–1983)
“Wild Bill was indulging in his favorite pastime of a friendly game of cards in the old No. 10 saloon. For the second time in his career, he was sitting with his back to an open door. Jack McCall walked in, shot him through the back of the head, and rushed from the place, only to be captured shortly afterward. Wild Bill’s dead hand held aces and eights, and from that time on this has been known in the West as “the dead man’s hand.””
—State of South Dakota, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)