The 1997 Real Tennis Australian Open was the 66th edition of the Australian Open. The men's event was held at the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club in Melbourne between October 19-26, 1997 and was organised by the Australian Real Tennis Association. The men's draw was the third grand slam event of the year.
| 1997 Australian Open (real tennis) | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19-26 October |
| Edition | 66th |
| Draw | 16S / 8D |
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Venue | Royal Melbourne Tennis Club |
| Champions | |
| Men's singles | |
 Robert Fahey | |
| Women's singles | |
 Penny Lumley | |
| Men's doubles | |
| Robert Fahey / Peter Meares | |
| Women's doubles | |
| Penny Lumley / Sue Haswell | |
The men's singles draw was won by incumbent World Champion Robert Fahey for the fourth time, defending his title from 1996. He beat 1995 champion Frank Filippelli in the final. Fahey also won the men's doubles draw alongside Peter Meares, also defending their 1996 title, defeating James Male and Julian Snow in the final in five sets, with a deciding game in the final set.[1] The women's singles draw was won by incumbent World Champion Penny Lumley, her second Australian Open singles victory and her first since 1991. She also won the doubles draw with Sue Haswell. The tournament was immediately followed by an international match between professionals from Great Britain and Australia in Sydney. Australia won 3 rubbers to two.[2]
Draw and results
editMen's Singles
edit| First round | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R Fahey
| 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| P Meares
| 3 | 1 | 0 | R Fahey
| 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G Hyland
| 6 | 6 | 6 | G Hyland
| 2 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Mickelburough
| 2 | 1 | 2 | R Fahey
| 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C Bray
| 6 | 6 | 6 | J Snow
| 4 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B McFarlane
| 2 | 1 | 3 | C Bray
| 3 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| J Snow
| 6 | 6 | 6 | J Snow
| 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M Happell
| 5 | 5 | 3 | R Fahey
| 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R Gunn
| 6 | 6 | 6 | F Filippelli
| 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W Davies
| 4 | 5 | 3 | R Gunn
| 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| F Filippelli
| 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | F Filippelli
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| P Tabley
| 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | F Filippelli
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| J Male
| 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | M Gooding
| 3 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| N Wood
| 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | J Male
| 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M Gooding
| 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | M Gooding
| 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B Dale
| 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Men's Doubles
edit| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| J Snow J Male
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| G Hyland B Dale
| 2 | 0 | 1 | J Snow J Male
| 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| C Bray M Happell
| 6 | 6 | 6 | C Bray M Happell
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adam Mickelburough B McFarlane
| 1 | 0 | 3 | J Snow J Male
| 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| R Fahey P Meares
| 6 | 6 | 6 | R Fahey P Meares
| 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| P Tabley R Gunn
| 1 | 2 | 2 | R Fahey P Meares
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| M Gooding N Wood
| 6 | 6 | 6 | M Gooding N Wood
| 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| F Filippelli W Davies
| 3 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||