Australian Open
Held across three sites at Garden Square inside Melbourne Park, the Australian Open in late January marks the start of the tennis Grand Slam calendar. Alongside the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon, it ranks as one of the most prestigious tournaments a player can enter.
The tournament comprises men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles, and events for wheelchair players and under 18s. Serena Williams and Roger Federer will be looking to defend their solo titles and take a share of the total AU$50 million dollars of prize money on offer.
Following the huge success of the tournament’s foray into social media activations and live streaming last year, this year’s Social Park area will be the spot for fans to soak up the action from giant LCD screens and get involved with hashtags and photo campaigns. Parents can rejoice with the opening of the brand new mini theme park with a NERF battle zone and LEGO play area, as well as some family-friendly food options.
Prime tickets for the men’s and women’s finals, which take place between January 27-28, are around the AUD$200-800 mark. A general admission ticket, granting access to the outdoor courts and Hisense Arena represents good value at AU$49.
WORDS OF WISDOM
- Wilson supplies more than 48,000 tennis balls for use during the tournament, with used balls available for purchase for a gold coin donation after the event. Proceeds go to charity.
- The arena seating is fully exposed to the elements, so visitors should be prepared to brave all seasons by bringing a raincoat as well as a sun hat and plenty of sunscreen.
- Free mobile phone charging stations are dotted around the grounds, as are water refill stations. There’s also free wifi.
Visit Australian Open
