SATHIO GROUP Australian Open 2023 returns bigger as a Super 500 event following a three-season run as a 300. Here are some fascinating facts about the competition founded in 1989.

• Zhang Shu Xian/Zheng Yu and Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung are the only champions defending their titles this edition.
• If successful, Zhang/Zheng will be the first women’s pair in 30 years, since Australians Lisa Campbell/Amanda Hardy in 1993, to triumph twice in a row.
• For third seeds Seo and Chae, glory would make them just the second three-time mixed doubles winners in tournament history, after He Tim/Anna Lao (1989-1991). Seo/Chae also won in 2018.
• Seo is also the sole shuttler seeded in two events (No.8 in men’s doubles with Kang Min Hyuk). Korean Kim Min Seo in 2010 was the most recent double titlist at the same edition (women’s and mixed doubles).
• Nine other former winners competing are Hendra Setiawan (2012 with Markis Kido), Lee Chun Hei Reginald (2015 with Chau Hoi Wah), Kidambi Srikanth and Misaki Matsutomo (2017 with Ayaka Takahashi), Ayako Sakuramoto (2018 with Yukiko Takahata), Jonatan Christie, Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota and Huang Dong Ping (2019 with Wang Yi Lyu).
• Australia remain the sole country to complete a sweep, doing so in 1995.
• Women’s pair Chia-chi Huang/He Tian Tang are their last representatives to be victorious. They triumphed in 2009.
• Only Chinese and Japanese pairs have won the category since 2013.
• Malaysia are going through a drought, with their last title coming in 2009 via men’s doubles duo Teik Chai Gan/Bin Shen Tan.
• It’s one of two categories, mixed doubles being the other, in which they have more than one seeded pair – No.2 Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik and No.4 Teo Ee Yi/Ong Yew Sin in men’s doubles and No.5 Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie and No.8 Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei in mixed doubles.
• With three seeds – Ratchanok Intanon (2), Pornpawee Chochuwong (3) and Supanida Katethong (6), Thailand will hope to finally celebrate a women’s singles champion. The Thais have not had a finalist in the discipline after Nichaon Jindapon in 2013.
• Among countries waiting for their maiden titlist (s) but have seeded entries are Singapore (men’s singles No.4 Loh Kean Yew) and USA (women’s singles No.4 Beiwen Zhang).

Standout Stat: From 2011, China have continuously produced winners at every edition.