On high of the thrills of world-class tennis, plans unveiled for subsequent yr’s one hundred and twentieth anniversary occasion embrace an epic fusion of music, innovation and leisure.
10 October 2024 | tennis.com.au
Australian Open 2025 is about to serve up an unforgettable three weeks in January.
Some fascinating rising on-court rivalries are the headline acts and have tennis followers throughout the globe salivating in anticipation.
However in addition to the thrills of world-class tennis, plans unveiled for subsequent yr’s one hundred and twentieth anniversary occasion embrace an epic fusion of music, leisure and revolutionary new experiences to thrill followers of all ages.
“Following a record-breaking 2024, we’re aiming for an excellent greater Australian Open celebration, launching the tennis season globally with extra tennis, extra leisure and a number of contemporary initiatives to deliver followers nearer to the motion than ever earlier than,” Australian Open Event Director Craig Tiley mentioned.
“On court docket we have already got some unbelievable new rivalries – Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are setting themselves aside. There’s a sure 10-time AO Champion in Novak Djokovic who once more confirmed his dominance on the Paris Olympics and who will come to Melbourne decided to carry the trophy once more. After which there are the likes of Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas who’ve each been finalists right here, and the Individuals Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton.
“Aryna Sabalenka and world primary Iga Swiatek took the lion’s share of the tennis spoils this yr and their rivalry is a must-watch. Coco Gauff is again in good kind and received in Beijing final week, Qinwen Zheng, Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova, Ons Jabeur and Jess Pegula are additionally main contenders. Others, like Emma Navarro and Jasmine Paolini and naturally a celebrity like Naomi Osaka, wouldn’t shock anybody in the event that they went on a run right here in Melbourne. The ladies’s discipline is simply wealthy with risk and expertise.
“And naturally, on the house entrance we have now the emergence of a rising and formidable Aussie posse of males, led by Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin – who might overlook that unbelievable win over Novak on the US Open – and Jordan Thompson, all within the high 30. Ajla Tomljanovic is again within the high 100 and it was nice to see her win the Hong Kong match final week, and Olivia Gadecki, after reaching the finals in Mexico not too long ago, has additionally hit the highest 100 milestone.”
Tiley defined {that a} focus of Australian Open 2025 was designing extra methods for followers to get nearer to the motion.
EXPERIENCES: AO on the Street kicks off throughout Victoria
“The Village – between Kia and John Cain Enviornment, with new-look shaded viewing platforms and enjoyable bars and snacks shut by, is the place you’ll be able to catch the very high gamers in observe; we sit up for asserting a stellar legends discipline, in one other Grand Slam first we’re introducing a wheelchair qualifying occasion, there might be a brand new junior wheelchair match, and rather more,” he mentioned.
“Off-court sights embrace the creation of TOPCOURT, a world-first immersive expertise the place tennis, tradition, digital media and gaming collide, probably the most various culinary choices but, a variety of gorgeous premium experiences, an expanded music line up and a ramped-up Opening Week.
“We’re lucky to have great partnerships with an ever-growing checklist of unbelievable international manufacturers. They honestly assist us to deliver the occasion to life yr after yr.
“The AO’s broadcast and on-line presence has additionally reached unprecedented ranges. Broadcast viewership for AO 2024 surged by 57% in comparison with 2023, with an unbelievable 558 million distinctive viewers worldwide. On social media, we’ve seen exceptional progress, with 3.8 billion impressions throughout AO 2024—a rise of 228% from the earlier yr. Our year-round content material technique is clearly resonating with followers, as social media impressions have grown by 18%, and YouTube views have skyrocketed by 186%, reflecting a large urge for food for Australian Open content material.
“Annually, we push the boundaries of what the AO can supply—whether or not it’s enhancing the location, elevating the foods and drinks experiences, providing much more tennis to get pleasure from, or, in 2025, introducing extra methods to play. We’ve added extra stay music and practically doubled our shaded areas to make sure fan consolation. The demand retains rising, and we’re increasing to satisfy it. We’re delighted that our followers, each native and worldwide, maintain exhibiting up, and we are able to’t wait to welcome everybody to the perfect AO but.”
Australian Open 2025 three-week tennis and leisure extravaganza consists of:
- TOPCOURT, a vibrant new precinct in Center Terrace at Birrarung Marr, is one other Grand Slam first. Bringing the vibe for the subsequent era of tennis and leisure followers, it’ll characteristic stay music and DJs, a public Padel Courtroom, retail pop-ups and a number of the newest gaming setups. The final word hangout spot to relax with pals, TOPCOURT would be the place to assemble, store and exhibit your match at AO 2025.
- EXPANDED OPENING WEEK, together with AO Qualifying; every day Open Apply periods in Rod Laver Enviornment; 4 exhibition and charity matches that includes high gamers; Children Tennis Day on Saturday 11 January, with household enjoyable together with competitions and prizes, extra methods to play tennis, an enormous number of foods and drinks choices throughout the location and the fan favorite Rod Laver Enviornment Spectacular.
- COURTSIDE BAR, after being one of the vital in style spots to absorb the tennis and seize a drink at AO 2024, the two-storey Courtside Bar will return. With elevated capability, enhanced tennis viewing, an intimate rooftop bar and scrumptious bar menu, it’s set to be one of many hottest spots on web site.
- INCREASED SHADE, there might be virtually twice as a lot shade throughout Melbourne Park than at AO 2024, and 3 times as a lot shade than simply 5 years in the past. This features a new shade construction over the seating bowl of 1573 Enviornment and 300 sq. metres of shade in meals and beverage areas.
- AO LIVE will deliver big-name headline acts – together with Benson Boone, Kaytranada, Kesha and Armand Van Helden – to the finals together with extra music throughout the precinct for the complete three weeks of the occasion.
- The Village, nestled between John Cain Enviornment and Kia Enviornment, affords followers an up-close view of the world’s high gamers as they observe and equipment up for Grand Slam glory. With new shaded viewing platforms and an expanded collection of meals and bar choices, it’s the right spot to chill out and catch all of the motion.
- Wheelchair Qualifying, in one other Grand Slam first, every wheelchair tennis division, males’s, girls’s and Quads, could have a four-player qualifying draw with two gamers progressing to the primary draw.
- Australian Open Junior Wheelchair Championships debuts, with eight junior athletes to compete within the inaugural occasion.
Australian Open 2025 may even host the primary Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day, which in 2024 was renamed from First Nations Day to honour the tennis legend. Fan favourites All Skills Day, Sizzling Pictures Tennis Day, Ladies & Women Day and Satisfaction Day will all return.
Each Evonne Goolagong Cawley and John Newcombe will have fun 50 years since their respective second AO titles in 1975. Newcombe will characteristic on the coin tossed earlier than matches on the AO and all Summer season of Tennis occasions (as Goolagong Cawley did in 2024).
