Men's singles
1972 Australian Open
Champion	Ken Rosewall
Runner-up	Mal Anderson
Score	7–6(7–2), 6–3, 7–5
Draw	50
Seeds	12

Defending champion Ken Rosewall defeated Mal Anderson in the final, 7–6^(7–2), 6–3, 7–5 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1972 Australian Open. It was his eighth and last Grand Slam tournament singles title, and at 37 years, 1 month old, he became the oldest major champion in men's singles in the Open Era.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Ken Rosewall is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

Draw

Final eight

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	John Newcombe	6	3	4	6	7
	8	Mal Anderson	2	6	6	3	9
										8	Mal Anderson	6	7	7
										4	Alex Metreveli	2	6	6
	11	John Cooper	2	6	4	2
	4	Alex Metreveli	6	3	6	6
																			8	Mal Anderson	6	3	5
																			2	Ken Rosewall	7	6	7
		Barry Phillips-Moore	6	5	6	3
	10	Allan Stone	4	7	7	6
										10	Allan Stone	6	1	6	2
										2	Ken Rosewall	7	6	3	6
	9	Dick Crealy	3	1	3
	2	Ken Rosewall	6	6	6

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										1	J Newcombe	6	7	6
		J Bartlett	7	6	6						J Bartlett	2	6	3
		W Durham	6	2	3														1	J Newcombe	6	6	6
		A McDonald	6	6	6															P Dominguez	1	3	1
		S Myers	2	4	4						A McDonald	6	4	3	2
											P Dominguez	4	6	6	6
																												1	J Newcombe	6	3	4	6	7
																												8	M Anderson	2	6	6	3	9
										12	G Masters	5	5	2
		A Hammond	3	3	4						N Fraser	7	7	6
		N Fraser	6	6	6															N Fraser	2	3	1
		W N'Godrella	6	7	3	6													8	M Anderson	6	6	6
		W Coghlan	3	6	6	3					W N'Godrella	4	6	1	3
										8	M Anderson	6	3	6	6

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										5	O Davidson	3	6	1	5
		R Casey	1	0	3						F Sedgman	6	1	6	7
		F Sedgman	6	6	6															F Sedgman	6	3	1	3
																			11	J Cooper	3	6	6	6
											P Proisy	6	3	4	2
										11	J Cooper	4	6	6	6
																												11	J Cooper	2	6	4	2
		R Case	6	6	6																							4	A Metreveli	6	3	6	6
		C Stubs	1	3	1						R Case	6	3	6	7
		B Lloyd	w/o								J Stephens	4	6	2	5
		J Stephens																		R Case	2	6	4	2
		M Phillips	4	4	4														4	A Metreveli	6	3	6	6
		K Tanabe	6	6	6						K Tanabe	3	2	2
										4	A Metreveli	6	6	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										3	J Alexander	6	7	6
		R Rheinberger	w/o								I Fletcher	3	5	4
		I Fletcher																	3	J Alexander	3	6	6	6	3
		S Ball	3	7	5	5														B Phillips-Moore	6	1	7	1	6
		J James	6	5	7	7					J James	3	6	3
		R Frawley	3	1	1						B Phillips-Moore	6	7	6
		B Phillips-Moore	6	6	6																								B Phillips-Moore	6	5	6	3
																												10	A Stone	4	7	7	6
										10	A Stone	7	7	6
		A Gardiner	6	2	6						K Warwick	5	5	3
		K Warwick	7	6	7														10	A Stone	6	6	6
		G Thomson	4	6	5	6														M Cocks	1	2	3
		M Cocks	6	4	7	7					M Cocks	6	7	4	1	6
		J Zigmund	3	7	6	4	6				J Zigmund	4	5	6	6	1
		D McCormick	6	6	4	6	2

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										7	C Dibley	6	6	7
		P Kronk	5	3	1						M Rose	1	4	6
		M Rose	7	6	6														7	C Dibley	4	6	3
		B Giltinan	6	3	7	6													9	D Crealy	6	7	6
		K Hancock	1	6	5	4					B Giltinan	6	5	1	6	11
										9	D Crealy	1	7	6	4	13
																												9	D Crealy	3	1	3
																												2	K Rosewall	6	6	6
											J-P Meyer	6	2	7	6	8
		C Letcher	6	0	6	6					C Letcher	4	6	6	7	6
		G Perkins	1	6	1	4														J-P Meyer	3	1	3
		J Kuki																	2	K Rosewall	6	6	6
		A Haswell	w/o								J Kuki	3	2	1
										2	K Rosewall	6	6	6

External links

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1972 Australian Open Men's Singles draw
• 1972 Australian Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation