The Australian Open was known as the Australasian Championships between 1905 and 1926, and during that period Great Britain produced a winner with perhaps the best name for a sportsman ever.

Step forward Algernon Kingscote, who claimed the title with victory over Eric Pockley of Australia in straight sets in 1916. But he was not the first British player to prevail, as four years previously Gordon Lowe had claimed a four-set win over Horace Rice.

John Gregory secured another title for Britain in 1929, by which time the tournament was known as the Australian Championships.

Then it was the turn of the legendary Fred Perry, who won in 1934 but lost in the final the following year.

The tournament became the Australian Open in 1969 and Britain's John Lloyd battled his way to the final in 1977, only to lose to American Vitas Gerulaitis. Since then, as far as the British men are concerned, there has been nothing to write home about.

In the women's event Britain had to wait until 1958 for a champion, when Angela Mortimer beat Lorraine Robinson.
Virginia Wade raised the flag again in 1972, when she beat home favourite Evonne Cawley in straight sets, but since that victory Britain's women have failed to threaten at the sharp end of the tournament.