diff --git a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts
index 81576b717270..85ce44aae18d 100644
--- a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.spec.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import {MatDatepickerInput} from './datepicker-input';
 import {MatDatepickerToggle} from './datepicker-toggle';
 import {MatDatepickerIntl, MatDatepickerModule} from './index';
 
-
 describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
   const SUPPORTS_INTL = typeof Intl != 'undefined';
 
@@ -113,6 +112,18 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
             .not.toBeNull();
       });
 
+      it('should open datepicker if opened input is set to true', () => {
+        testComponent.opened = true;
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(document.querySelector('.mat-datepicker-content')).not.toBeNull();
+
+        testComponent.opened = false;
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(document.querySelector('.mat-datepicker-content')).toBeNull();
+      });
+
       it('open in disabled mode should not open the calendar', () => {
         testComponent.disabled = true;
         fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -151,9 +162,7 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
         testComponent.datepicker.close();
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
-        fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
-          expect(parseInt(getComputedStyle(popup).height as string)).toBe(0);
-        });
+        expect(parseInt(getComputedStyle(popup).height as string)).toBe(0);
       });
 
       it('should close the popup when pressing ESCAPE', () => {
@@ -177,7 +186,7 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
             .toBe(true, 'Expected default ESCAPE action to be prevented.');
       });
 
-      it('close should close dialog', () => {
+      it('close should close dialog', async(() => {
         testComponent.touch = true;
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -192,9 +201,9 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
         fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
           expect(document.querySelector('mat-dialog-container')).toBeNull();
         });
-      });
+      }));
 
-      it('setting selected should update input and close calendar', () => {
+      it('setting selected should update input and close calendar', async(() => {
         testComponent.touch = true;
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -212,12 +221,13 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           expect(document.querySelector('mat-dialog-container')).toBeNull();
           expect(testComponent.datepickerInput.value).toEqual(new Date(2020, JAN, 2));
         });
-      });
+      }));
 
       it('clicking the currently selected date should close the calendar ' +
           'without firing selectedChanged', () => {
         const selectedChangedSpy =
             spyOn(testComponent.datepicker.selectedChanged, 'emit').and.callThrough();
+
         for (let changeCount = 1; changeCount < 3; changeCount++) {
           const currentDay = changeCount;
           testComponent.datepicker.open();
@@ -231,11 +241,9 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           fixture.detectChanges();
         }
 
-        fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
-          expect(selectedChangedSpy.calls.count()).toEqual(1);
-          expect(document.querySelector('mat-dialog-container')).toBeNull();
-          expect(testComponent.datepickerInput.value).toEqual(new Date(2020, JAN, 2));
-        });
+        expect(selectedChangedSpy.calls.count()).toEqual(1);
+        expect(document.querySelector('mat-dialog-container')).toBeNull();
+        expect(testComponent.datepickerInput.value).toEqual(new Date(2020, JAN, 2));
       });
 
       it('startAt should fallback to input value', () => {
@@ -479,7 +487,7 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
         expect(inputEl.classList).toContain('ng-touched');
       });
 
-      it('should mark input touched on calendar selection', () => {
+      it('should mark input touched on calendar selection', async(() => {
         let inputEl = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement;
 
         expect(inputEl.classList).toContain('ng-untouched');
@@ -492,7 +500,7 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
 
           expect(inputEl.classList).toContain('ng-touched');
         });
-      });
+      }));
     });
 
     describe('datepicker with formControl', () => {
@@ -702,7 +710,7 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
         expect(testComponent.datepicker._maxDate).toEqual(new Date(2020, JAN, 1));
       });
 
-      it('should mark invalid when value is before min', () => {
+      it('should mark invalid when value is before min', async(() => {
         testComponent.date = new Date(2009, DEC, 31);
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -712,9 +720,9 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement.classList)
               .toContain('ng-invalid');
         });
-      });
+      }));
 
-      it('should mark invalid when value is after max', () => {
+      it('should mark invalid when value is after max', async(() => {
         testComponent.date = new Date(2020, JAN, 2);
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -724,9 +732,9 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement.classList)
               .toContain('ng-invalid');
         });
-      });
+      }));
 
-      it('should not mark invalid when value equals min', () => {
+      it('should not mark invalid when value equals min', async(() => {
         testComponent.date = testComponent.datepicker._minDate;
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -736,9 +744,9 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement.classList)
               .not.toContain('ng-invalid');
         });
-      });
+      }));
 
-      it('should not mark invalid when value equals max', () => {
+      it('should not mark invalid when value equals max', async(() => {
         testComponent.date = testComponent.datepicker._maxDate;
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -748,9 +756,9 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement.classList)
               .not.toContain('ng-invalid');
         });
-      });
+      }));
 
-      it('should not mark invalid when value is between min and max', () => {
+      it('should not mark invalid when value is between min and max', async(() => {
         testComponent.date = new Date(2010, JAN, 2);
         fixture.detectChanges();
 
@@ -760,7 +768,7 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
           expect(fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('input')).nativeElement.classList)
               .not.toContain('ng-invalid');
         });
-      });
+      }));
     });
 
     describe('datepicker with filter and validation', () => {
@@ -1078,17 +1086,27 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
       input = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('input') as HTMLInputElement;
     }));
 
-    it('should have the correct input value even when inverted date format', () => {
-      let selected = new Date(2017, SEP, 1);
+    it('should have the correct input value even when inverted date format', async(() => {
+      if (typeof Intl === 'undefined') {
+        // Skip this test if the internationalization API is not supported in the current
+        // browser. Browsers like Safari 9 do not support the "Intl" API.
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const selected = new Date(2017, SEP, 1);
       testComponent.date = selected;
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
         fixture.detectChanges();
-        expect(input.value).toBe('01.09.2017');
+
+        // Normally the proper date format would 01.09.2017, but some browsers seem format the
+        // date without the leading zero. (e.g. 1.9.2017).
+        expect(input.value).toMatch(/0?1\.0?9\.2017/);
+
         expect(testComponent.datepickerInput.value).toBe(selected);
       });
-    });
+    }));
   });
 });
 
@@ -1096,10 +1114,11 @@ describe('MatDatepicker', () => {
 @Component({
   template: `
     <input [matDatepicker]="d" [value]="date">
-    <mat-datepicker #d [touchUi]="touch" [disabled]="disabled"></mat-datepicker>
+    <mat-datepicker #d [touchUi]="touch" [disabled]="disabled" [opened]="opened"></mat-datepicker>
   `,
 })
 class StandardDatepicker {
+  opened = false;
   touch = false;
   disabled = false;
   date: Date | null = new Date(2020, JAN, 1);
diff --git a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts
index ae0bd02aab63..910baac9b011 100644
--- a/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts
+++ b/src/lib/datepicker/datepicker.ts
@@ -186,7 +186,10 @@ export class MatDatepicker<D> implements OnDestroy {
   @Output('closed') closedStream: EventEmitter<void> = new EventEmitter<void>();
 
   /** Whether the calendar is open. */
-  opened = false;
+  @Input()
+  get opened(): boolean { return this._opened; }
+  set opened(shouldOpen: boolean) { shouldOpen ? this.open() : this.close(); }
+  private _opened = false;
 
   /** The id for the datepicker calendar. */
   id = `mat-datepicker-${datepickerUid++}`;
@@ -277,7 +280,7 @@ export class MatDatepicker<D> implements OnDestroy {
 
   /** Open the calendar. */
   open(): void {
-    if (this.opened || this.disabled) {
+    if (this._opened || this.disabled) {
       return;
     }
     if (!this._datepickerInput) {
@@ -288,13 +291,13 @@ export class MatDatepicker<D> implements OnDestroy {
     }
 
     this.touchUi ? this._openAsDialog() : this._openAsPopup();
-    this.opened = true;
+    this._opened = true;
     this.openedStream.emit();
   }
 
   /** Close the calendar. */
   close(): void {
-    if (!this.opened) {
+    if (!this._opened) {
       return;
     }
     if (this._popupRef && this._popupRef.hasAttached()) {
@@ -314,7 +317,7 @@ export class MatDatepicker<D> implements OnDestroy {
       this._focusedElementBeforeOpen = null;
     }
 
-    this.opened = false;
+    this._opened = false;
     this.closedStream.emit();
   }