Australian Tennis Open January 18th - January 31st 2010

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 40 degrees 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.

The Australian Tennis Open is broadcast internationally and keenly watched by tennis and sporting fans across the world. The Australian Open attracts the best rising stars on the international tennis tour and each year hosts the highest ranked male and female players. The Australian Tennis Open is held over a two week period during which competition is fierce and many a long match is battled out by players. The tournament reaches its climax on the final weekend with the women’s final played out on the final Saturday and the Men’s final played on the final Sunday. Juniors, Doubles and other category finals are also played around this time. 

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.

Tickets for the Australian open tennis are release many months in advance with the main court tickets usually being sold out early. Tickets for previous years such as 2009 ranged between $19 and $174. In additional to the entrance tickets for the Australian Open, visitors could also purchase tickets for the various concerts and shows that formed a part of the overall spectacle of the Australian Open. Regular players at the tournament include some of the big names on the tennis tour players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, the Williams sisters, and other many other great names on the current world tennis circuit. 

The Australian Tennis Open 2010 will be held in Melbourne Australia at the Melbourne Park tennis complex starting on January 18th and finishing with the finals on January 31st 2010. Accommodation for the 2010 Australian Tennis Open should be booked now. The tennis complex has a total seating capacity of 15,000 people which can also increase depending on the foot traffic. Ticket prices vary considerably with day 1 tickets to matches on Rod Laver Arena starting at $55 and reaching $290 for the finals. Australian Open ticket prices for Hisense Arena start at $50. There are various packages available and corporate tickets all which vary accordingly. Ground passes can be cheaper and start from just $19.