Australian Tennis Open
The Australian Tennis Open is hosted every January at the Melbourne Tennis Stadium in Flinders Park. The stadium includes the Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena (formerly Vodafone Arena) and a number of satellite courts within the complex. There are four major international grand slam tournaments held each year including the Australian Tennis Open, the French Tennis Open in Paris, Wimbledon in London and the US Tennis Open in New York. With the often extreme summer temperatures of Australia the Australian Tennis Open is regarded as one of the most physically demanding for players who often succumbing to the heat. The Australian Open is important in many ways, not least of which is because it is the first Grand Slam Tennis Tournament of the year. Temperatures during the two week tournament can often reach 40o and above with the court temperature often well above that. In an effort to minimise the impact of the heat the Australian Tennis Open organisers have installed retractable roofing systems over the main court that can be closed during time of extreme heat or rain. The main arena was named after Rod Laver, the only Australian and international player to have won all four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments in one year, twice.
As would be expected during a tournament at this level, competition during the Australian Tennis Open is extreme and the atmosphere on court and within the stadium is electric. The tournament runs for two weeks. The women’s finals are played on the final Saturday in the second week and the men’s final is played on the Sunday of the second week. Men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles and juniors are played with as much competition as the head line matches. Matches are broadcast around the world by various networks and watched by many millions of viewers all looking for a glimpse of their favourite male and female tennis players competing in the Australian Tennis Open.
Attracting visitors and tennis lovers from all over Australia and from around the world to Melbourne each January, the Australian Tennis Open is the main international tourism event and attraction in Australia during this period. The two weeks of the tennis open is full of entertainment in and around the Melbourne Park complex with roving entertainers, concerts, markets and food all making this one of the great sporting events on the Melbourne international calendar.
Along with tickets for the Australian Open, people staying in Melbourne for the tennis can also buy concert tickets for the premium park shows and enjoy the varied entertainment and attractions that combine with the great tennis to make this a spectacular two weeks of entertainment. Players that competed during 2009 included Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, the Williams sisters, Dina Safina and many leading players on the world tennis tour. For the 2009 Australian Tennis Open most of the main tickets sold out in advance with average prices ranging from $19 and $174.
For the 2010 Australian Tennis Open the main matches will be played at Rod Laver Arena and ticket prices range from $55 up to $290 for the finals. Ticket prices for matches on Hisense arena start at $50. Tickets prices go up as the tournament progresses with quarter finals, semi-finals and the men’s and women’s finals all at premium prices. The Australian Tennis Open 2010 will be planned from January 18 to January 31 at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne Australia. The total seating capacity of Melbourne Park is around 15,000.
Tags: Tennis