
Australian Open fast facts
Originally published on 21/01/17 00:00
Martina Hingis had a lucky escape before her historic 1997 Australian Open victory.
The 16-year-old beat 1995 champion Mary Pierce 6-2 6-2 to become the youngest Grand Slam champion since Lottie Dod at Wimbledon in 1887, but it could have been a very different outcome.
Just a few days before the final, Hingis, who also won the women’s doubles title with Natasha Zvereva, fell off a horse called Magic Girl.