Australian Open Tennis Championship

Tennis is rightly considered one of the oldest sports in the world. The first tournament is known to have been played as far back as 1875. There were just 22 players at the time but it became a major Olympic sport nearly 20 years later. Tennis tournaments now draw huge crowds of professional tennis players and spectators who enjoy the spectator sport. Various competitions at different levels take place all over the world on a regular basis. The most popular is the Grand Slam, which is regarded as the biggest event in the sport.

The Grand Slam itself is not a simple championship. It consists of four different events taking place in different countries. One of the tournaments which form part of the Grand Slam is the Australian Open. It’s regarded as a very prestigious tournament, second only to first place at the Olympics.

Australian Open

The Australian Open is the opening event in the Grand Slam Series. Each year it attracts thousands of tennis fans who want to play against the best players in the world. Traditionally the Australian Open starts in mid January. That’s when some of the world’s best tennis players arrive in the country. They get ready for the men’s, women’s and doubles events. There are also junior and veteran tournaments helping to raise the profile of tennis around the world.

The Australian Open was first held in 1905. The tournament is most often played in Sydney. It’s also played in four other Australian cities and has been played twice in New Zealand.

Of course, Australia can’t really hold its own against Europe as the ‘cradle of tennis’. But the sport is one of the most pervasive in Australia. Almost everyone in Australia starts swimming and tennis at an early age. So it’s no surprise that the Australian Tennis Association was formed as early as 1904. Within a year the inaugural championship was held and only in 1927 was it formally renamed the Australian Championships. Then in 1969 the event was opened to the public. It was at that time the name of the Australian Open was changed. It is now the most important sporting event in Australia.

Australian Open courts

The championship is played on a number of courts. The main one is the Rod Laver Arena, named after Rod Laver. He is a famous Australian tennis legend in his home country. The court can seat up to 15,000 people and is a unique structure with a retractable roof. This allows for maximum comfort for spectators and players alike, unaffected by changing weather conditions.

Matches are also played at Margaret Court Arena, which was named after Australia’s top female tennis player Margaret Court in 2003. She holds the record, which no other player has yet managed to break. Margaret Court may have won 62 Grand Slam tournaments.

The Vodafone Arena is a unique piece of architecture that was built in 2000. The unusual thing about it is that it can be transformed to suit its purpose. The Vodafone Arena can become:

1. A cycle track with a seating capacity of 4,500 spectators.
2. A concert stage with a capacity of up to 10.5 thousand people.
3. A court for tennis matches.

Australians cherish their tennis legends. That’s why Australian Open trophies are named after the best local players. Winners of the men’s tournament win the Norman Brooks Trophy. Women compete for the right to win the Daphne Auckhurst Memorial Cup. These titles show the careful stewardship Australians place on tennis in general and their legends in particular.