| Everyone is expecting tonight's tennis matches to see | | | | south-east, but then it was moved to Melbourne Park |
| who will be going to the finals of the Australian Open | | | | that by then was known as Flinders Park. Mats |
| at Melbourne. The female contenders are: Serena | | | | Wilander was the only player to win the tournament |
| Williams and Nicole Vaidisova, this match will be played | | | | both on grass and on Rebound Ace. |
| at 9pm eastern time, and on the other hand: Maria | | | | The Australian Open was held during December from |
| Sharapova and Kim Clijsters will defy each other at | | | | 1977 through 1985, returning to its original January date |
| 11pm Eastern Standard. | | | | in 1987. This led to two tournaments being played in |
| The boys will also decide this week the two finalists | | | | 1977; the first one in January and the second one in |
| that will go towards the title. They will be playing next | | | | December. In 1986, because of the return to January, |
| Thursday 25th. The first match will be played by | | | | no tournament was held. |
| Roger Federer and Andy Roddick at 3:30am ET and | | | | The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam |
| the second one will be between Tommy Haas and | | | | tournament that can feature indoor play since the two |
| Fernando Gonzalez at 7pm ET. | | | | main courts, Rod Laver Arena, and Vodafone Arena |
| The Australian Open is the first one of the world's four | | | | have movable roofs that can be shut in case of rain |
| Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and it takes place | | | | or extreme heat. However, Wimbledon has plans to |
| each January at Melbourne Park. | | | | build a retractable roof for Centre Court in 2009. |
| The tournament was played for the first time in 1905. It | | | | As this tournament is held in the middle of summer, the |
| was contested by top-ranked amateur players and | | | | Australian Open is legendary for its notoriously hot |
| known as the Australian championships until the advent | | | | days. An extreme-heat policy is applied when |
| of open tennis in 1968. | | | | temperatures and humidity reach dangerous levels. |
| This tournament was originally based at the grass | | | | This year we have seen how the heat has affected |
| courts at Kooyong in the city of Melbourne's inner | | | | the tennis players during their matches. |