1988 Australian Open

Mandlikova’s New Beginning at the 1988 Australian Open

As the 1988 Australian Open gets underway, defending champion Hana Mandlikova is set to embark on a new chapter in her career. The Czech-born star, who has won four Grand Slam titles, enters the tournament not just as a competitor but as an official Australian citizen for the first time.

Only days before the tournament, Mandlikova was formally granted Australian nationality at a citizenship ceremony at The Rocks, where she was one of 35 people taking the oath. She swore allegiance to the Queen and sang Advance Australia Fair before receiving her certificate from Sir Eric Neal, Chief Commissioner of Sydney Council.

Sir Eric congratulated her and formally welcomed her to Australia. Mandlikova, clearly moved, responded:

“Thank you, I am very proud.”

At 25 years old, Mandlikova is no stranger to Australia. She has been visiting the country for the past decade and has long felt a strong connection to it.

“I have always loved this country and felt it was my second home,” she said.

Now, as she prepares for her title defense at the new National Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Mandlikova hopes to give back to her adopted nation by representing it on the international stage.

She stated her ambition clearly:

“I hope to play for Australia in international tournaments, and I want ‘Australian’ printed after my name.”

With a fresh national identity and the motivation to defend her crown, Mandlikova enters this Australian Open with a unique mix of pride, expectation, and pressure. Will her homecoming inspire another Grand Slam victory? The coming days will tell.

Flinders Park Inauguration : Parade of Champions

on the occasion of the inauguration of the brand-new National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, a parade of Australian Champions took place on center court. Hana Mandlikova, a new Australian, was thrilled to take part alongside Australian tennis legends such as Evonne Goolagong.

Round 1 : Hana Mandlikova vs Mima Jausovec in 1988 Australian Open

Hana Mandlikova’s Australian Debut Marred by Court Controversy

Hana Mandlikova, playing her first match as an Australian citizen, delivered a solid but not entirely dominant performance in her opening-round victory at the Australian Open. Facing Yugoslavia’s Mima Jausovec, a seasoned competitor who claimed the French Open title 11 years ago, Mandlikova initially struggled to impose her game. The first set was closely contested, with Jausovec using her experience to stay in the rallies and challenge her opponent. However, Mandlikova gradually found her rhythm, raising the intensity in the second set and taking full control of the match. She sealed a convincing 6-4, 6-1 victory, moving confidently into the next round despite a somewhat hesitant start.

For her debut as an Australian citizen, Mandlikova was surprisingly not scheduled to play on the center court. As a result, many eager fans and supporters were unable to access the smaller outside court where her match was held, as it quickly reached full capacity. This unexpected scheduling decision left many disappointed, as they were eager to witness her first Grand Slam appearance representing Australia.

Round 2 : Hana Mandlikova vs Hellas Ter Riet in 1988 Australian Open

Mandlíková Overpowers Dutch Newcomer to Advance

In the second round of the 1988 Australian Open, defending champion and newly naturalised Australian Hana Mandlikova cruised past 18-year-old Dutch player Hellas ter Riet with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory. The match, played under clear conditions, lasted less than an hour and highlighted Mandlikova’s superior experience and shot-making.

Hellas ter Riet, 18 years-old from the Netherlands, had turned professional in 1985 and was considered a promising young talent on the tour. she is making her first appearances in the main draw of a Grand Slam event. Despite her potential, she was clearly outclassed by the seasoned Mandlikova.

Round 3 : Hana Mandlikova vs Catherine Tanvier

Mandlikova Reaches Fourth Round in First Centre Court Appearance

Hana Mandlikova, playing her first tournament as a naturalised Australian, advanced to the fourth round of the 1988 Australian Open by defeating France’s Catherine Tanvier 6-4, 6-3. It was her first appearance on centre court during the tournament, despite being the defending champion.

Mandlikova expressed pride in representing Australia, saying:

“I would be very happy and proud to win this tournament as an Australian,” but added, “I must take it match by match.”

She was satisfied with how she served and returned against Tanvier, despite tricky, windy conditions that led both players to make many errors. Mandlikova handled Tanvier’s second serve well and ultimately closed the match by winning her final service game to love.

Round 4 : Hana Mandlikova vs Lori McNeil

Mandlikova Advances, Graf Dominates

Mandlikova played an undistinguished match against Lori McNeil, winning 6-2 6-4.

Graf won her match against Lindqvist 6-0 7-5 but the way she won the first 8 games like a tycoon and only conceded 13 games in 4 matches.

On this form, the 18-year-old should be too powerful for Mandlikova. She is however, wary of the defending champion, who is as unpredictable as ever.

“ I never really know what to expect, but I always think of a tough match and you can’t go wrong,” she said.

Quarterfinals : Hana Mandlikova vs Steffi Graf in 1988 Australian Open

Hana blitzed by Graf

In a dominant display, Steffi Graf defeated Hana Mandlikova 6-2, 6-2 in just 50 minutes to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. It was a disappointing exit for Mandlikova, the defending champion, especially as the tournament was being held for the first time at her country’s new tennis center.

Mandlikova acknowledged that Graf’s sheer power overwhelmed her, admitting:

“No one hits the ball harder than she does, definitely.” She added, “If she starts hitting it any harder, I don’t know what we are going to do.”

Graf’s backhand was especially effective during the match, and she later commented that it had worked better than usual. Although she was slightly dissatisfied with her serve, Graf looked nearly unstoppable, with even top players like Martina Navratilova unlikely to win many games against her when she’s playing at this level.

Doubles : Quarterfinalist with Jana Novotna

Mandlikova & Novotna Reach Quarterfinals, Novotna Shines in Mixed

At the 1988 Australian Open, the women’s doubles team of Hana Mandlikova and Jana Novotna entered the tournament seeded sixth. Their journey concluded in the quarterfinals, where they faced the top-seeded duo and defending champions, Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver. Mandlíkova and Novotna were defeated in straight sets, despite a fantastic second set from both teams : 6-0, 7-6, ending their run in the tournament.

In the mixed doubles event, Jana Novotna achieved notable success. Partnering with American player Jim Pugh, the pair won the title by defeating Martina Navratilova and Tim Gullikson in the final.