Australian Open: All the numbers that matter

Serena Williams of the US hits a forehand return during a practice session on Rod Laver Arena ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship. Photo / AP.

Why are the Australians despite for a repeat of 1976? Why can't Maria beat Serena? What do Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and Rafa Nadal have in common? What unwanted record does Andy Murray hold and why can't boys become men?

We break down all the statistics and curiosities ahead of the Australian Open.

9 - Amount of matches Serena Williams has lost in Melbourne, since her first Australian Open appearance back in 1998. She has won 61 matches overall, lifting the trophy on a record five occasions.

1976 - The last time an Australian male won their own tournament (Mark Edmondson). There have been some close shaves; Pat Cash reached the final here in 1987 and 1988 while Hewitt made the decider in 2005. None of the other grand slam events have gone longer without a local champion, after Andy Murray broke a major drought in 2013.

6 - Amount of players in the women's main draw who have held the No1 ranking. Apart from the current top woman Serena Williams, there are Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic, Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic.

$63,357 - What the players are guaranteed in prize money if they win their first round matches.

2004 - The last time Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams. Williams' dominant 16-2 record might account for their rivalry, which is one of the fiercest on the women's side of the sport.

11 - Number of occasions since 1969 that the reigning male champion has successfully defended their crown in Melbourne. Federer, Djokovic, Andre Agassi and Stefan Edberg are among those that have managed the feat, while Nadal, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, Jimmy Connors and Rod Laver are on the long list of those who haven't.

65 - The number of Grand Slam events Venus Williams has contested. She is now only two behind Martina Navratilova while the all time leader is American Amy Frazier (71).

7 - Number of former Australian Open junior champions appearing in the main draw, among them Gael Monfils (2005), Donald Young (2005), Bernard Tomic (2008) and Heineken Open champion Jiri Vesely (2011). However Stefan Edberg remains the only former junior champion to lift the senior title. The Swede won the boys crown in 1983, then took the top prize in 1985 and 1987.

17 - Number of left handers in the men's draw.

44 year, 113 days - The age of Kimiko Date Drumm, the oldest women in the main draw singles field. It's a record for the Australian Open and Date Krumm already has the mark for the oldest female to win a match in Melbourne, set in 2013. But she will need to play on until 2018 to surpass Martina Navratilova, who won a match in Wimbledon in her 48th year.

61 - Roger Federer extends his record of consecutive appearances at a Grand Slam later today. Who knows when it will stop?

16 - Amount of American women's players in the main draw. Australia, German and Russia are the next highest with eight while there are seven representatives from the Czech Republic

3 - Number of times Andy Murray has appeared in the final in Melbourne, without winning the trophy. It's a record. Marat Safin had previously won the title on his third attempt (2005) after being runner up in 2002 and 2004.

6 - Amount of Grand Slam Champions in the men's main draw. Alongside the big four of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are Lleyton Hewitt and Stan Wawrinka.

19 - Number of times that Lleyton Hewitt has appeared in Melbourne. Roger Federer is next best among active players with 16.