Seeing a match at Rod Laver is an essential experience for tennis fans. This legendary court is beloved by those who appreciate Australian players’ fast and energetic playstyle.
Court 1 features a retractable roof to ensure competition can continue regardless of weather or heat waves.
1. Rod Laver Arena
At the Australian Open, Rod Laver Arena – named for legendary Australian tennis player Rod Laver – shines bright for all to see. As its grandest venue for Grand Slam events, this grandstand hosts some of the finest players every January.
Named for one of tennis’ greatest ever players, this iconic stadium must be visited by all tennis enthusiasts. Situated within Melbourne Sports Precinct and home to one of Australia’s premier tournaments – featuring an impressive retractable roof and various food and beverage options, this landmark venue holds 15,000 spectators for maximum excitement!
Rod Laver Arena has hosted some of the greatest tennis players, as well as other exciting events. From international rock concerts to motorbike supercross races, its versatility enables it to accommodate an assortment of activities. One notable instance was during 2007 when FINA World Swimming Championships hosted on its floor by creating a 50m temporary pool.
Plexicushion was chosen for the court surface after multiple injuries occurred on Rebound Ace’s green surface which often slowed play down. Plexicushion offers similar properties to DecoTurf, making for safer, speedier and longer-lasting playback than its green predecessor – thus responding to concerns of safety, speed and durability concerns raised over Rebound Ace. This change came in response to high rates of injuries on that previous Rebound Ace surface that often hindered gameplay.
Arena tickets can be fairly costly, but ground pass holders will experience all of its excitement first-hand and feel its energy first-hand. Kyrgios requests playing his early round matches here and John Millman jokes he would rather face Roger Federer here than any other court in the world!
2. Margaret Court Arena
Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park is an iconic tennis venue. Boasting a capacity of 7,500, its recently completed major renovation has only made it more appealing for sports and entertainment events, particularly because its retractable roof technology is considered world-class innovation – touted as one of the fastest of its kind by numerous sources.
Music fans also find the park to be an appealing spot, and recently Australian hip hop pioneers Hilltop Hoods performed as part of their Cosby Sweater Tour, paying homage to resilience against adversity through song. A similar sentiment could be found during UK rapper Little Simz’s explosive rise over recent years.
Megadeth kicked off our evening with their Knotfest sideshow at Knotfest. I still hear their riffs and guitar solos hours later; their set was electrifying, with an audience that went wild over every note they played – an unforgettable way to start our weekend adventure.
Margaret Court Arena has been host to several notable performances and events over time, such as the inaugural live broadcast of MasterChef Australia in 2013. Since November 2014, Melbourne United of the National Basketball League have held four matches here and were previously known as Melbourne Vixens.
Over the coming months, the MCA will host AFL club Richmond as well as several ATP Tour events such as Australian Open.
The MCA is one of Australia’s premier tennis venues and home to some of the most acclaimed sporting and musical events ever staged there. Renowned for its legendary electric atmosphere and world-class retractable roof innovation, its capacity exceeds 7,500 seats are close to the action – an ideal solution for tennis enthusiasts without budget for Rod Laver Arena tickets.
3. Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park, home to the Australian Open and named in honor of legendary tennis player Rod Laver, provides the ideal setting to witness live tennis matches and events like basketball games, motorbike supercrosses, music concerts and World Wrestling Entertainment events. There are only a handful of stadiums where this can happen worldwide and Melbourne Park is one such stadium where this can happen! This multipurpose arena was constructed as the primary location for this grand tournament. Known for hosting other sporting events as well – such as basketball matches, motorbike supercrosses music concerts and Wrestling Entertainment events- it hosts great match ups between teams!
Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct consists of the Melbourne Arena as part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct, alongside AAMI Park and Olympic Park Oval. Established in 1988, it underwent an impressive $972 million redevelopment prior to hosting the 2022 Australian Open tournament, featuring 25 outdoor courts including two show courts; 12 indoor high-quality plexicushion courts; as well as a national tennis center where top players train.
Join a local tennis club to practice your game on these courts by joining one of several clubs in your city that provide memberships and programs, or get your children involved – tennis can teach them important life lessons like teamwork and dedication as well as helping develop physical characteristics like hand eye coordination, balance coordination, flexibility and agility.
Attending the Australian Open offers many advantages, most notably getting to witness some of the greatest players competing on one court at once. Witnessing such world-class talent competing can be truly inspiring and worth every second spent travelling there! You could cheer for your favorite athlete or just soak up all that Australian charm – either way it will certainly be well worth your while!
At the Australian Open, there are many incredible venues – but none quite match Court 3 for experiencing its true spirit. Nestled nearby Garden Square with a massive fan base, Court 3 provides the ideal atmosphere and provides a relaxing spot from which you can watch some of the most intense matches during week one of competition.