The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. It is held annually over the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia.
The tournament was first held at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne as the Australasian Championships in 1905. Rodney Heath beat fellow Australian Albert Curtis in that first final.
The tournament was staged twice in New Zealand in its early days, in Christchurch in 1906 and Hastings in 1912.
It became the Australian Championships in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969.
When the event began in the early 20th century, the trip by ship from Europe or America to Australia took more than a month, so play was largely limited to Australians and New Zealanders.
Even after the advent of jet travel, dates around the Christmas holidays and low prize money kept many players away. Bjorn Borg only played the Australian Open once.
Over time, prize money and ranking points increased. The tournament shifted to the third and fourth weeks of January.
The Rod Laver arena was the first in Australia to have a retractable roof installed. The retractable roof was a big attraction in 1988. According to its designers, the point was to allow the stadium to host concerts and sports in all seasons.
The tournament was first held at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne as the Australasian Championships in 1905. Rodney Heath beat fellow Australian Albert Curtis in that first final.
The tournament was staged twice in New Zealand in its early days, in Christchurch in 1906 and Hastings in 1912.
It became the Australian Championships in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969.
When the event began in the early 20th century, the trip by ship from Europe or America to Australia took more than a month, so play was largely limited to Australians and New Zealanders.
Even after the advent of jet travel, dates around the Christmas holidays and low prize money kept many players away. Bjorn Borg only played the Australian Open once.
Over time, prize money and ranking points increased. The tournament shifted to the third and fourth weeks of January.
The Rod Laver arena was the first in Australia to have a retractable roof installed. The retractable roof was a big attraction in 1988. According to its designers, the point was to allow the stadium to host concerts and sports in all seasons.
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| Interior of Rod Laver Arena with the original Rebound Ace surface. By pfctdayelise |
The Melbourne Arena and the refurbished Margaret Court Arena are now also equipped with retractable roofs helping the Australian Open make the transition into one of the grander of tennis’s four Grand Slam events.
796, 435 people attended the 2019 Australian Open, making it the highest attended Grand Slam event in tennis.
Five Australian cities have hosted the event: Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, its home since 1972.
Novak Djokovic has won the men’s singles title a record nine times.
796, 435 people attended the 2019 Australian Open, making it the highest attended Grand Slam event in tennis.
Five Australian cities have hosted the event: Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, its home since 1972.
Novak Djokovic has won the men’s singles title a record nine times.
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| Novak Djokovic By IvanAndreevich |
Margaret Court, the Australian great who has an arena named after her at Melbourne Park, holds the record in the women's event, with eleven wins.
British player Andy Murray has lost a record five times in the final.
Source New York Times
.
British player Andy Murray has lost a record five times in the final.
Source New York Times
.
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