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
Final
ChampionAustralia Ken Rosewall
Runner-upAustralia Mal Anderson
Score7–6(7–2), 6–3, 7–5
Details
Draw50
Seeds12
Events
Singles men women boys girls
Doubles men women mixed boys girls
WC Singles men women quad
WC Doubles men women quad
Legends men women mixed
← 1971 · Australian Open · 1973 →

Seeds

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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

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Final eight

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
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Preceded by Grand Slam men's singles Succeeded by