One of tennis’s four Grand Slam tournaments
The Australian Open is an annual tennis tournament held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. Organised by Tennis Australia, it opens the calendar of the four Grand Slam tournaments, taking place before the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Its first edition was played in 1905 under the name Australasian Championships.
The event typically begins in mid-January and lasts about two weeks. Its programme includes professional singles, doubles and mixed doubles, as well as junior and wheelchair tennis competitions. Legends’ events and exhibitions may also be part of the schedule, so the tournament encompasses more than the men’s and women’s singles draws.
Courts and competition format
The tournament was played on grass until 1987. In 1988, it moved to hard courts and to Melbourne Park, where it remains. The blue hard-court surface has been GreenSet since 2020. Earlier surfaces were Rebound Ace, used from 1988 to 2007, and Plexicushion, used from 2008 to 2019.
The men’s and women’s singles main draws each include 128 players. Qualifying rounds provide entry to the main draw, while doubles events use their own draw format. The schedule also includes mixed doubles, junior and wheelchair competitions. The men’s final is traditionally held on the last Sunday of January, though exact dates vary by edition.
Its place in the tennis season
As the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open is a major early-season event for professional tennis. Its Melbourne location, long history and range of competitions help distinguish it within the sport’s calendar.
The current name reflects a tournament whose history began as the Australasian Championships in 1905. Understanding the event means looking beyond the singles finals: the Australian Open is a multi-category tournament, with professional, junior and wheelchair competitions, and with singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.