The Australian Open, also known as The Grand Slam Asia-Pacific, is the first Grand Slam and major tennis tournament of the year. The AO is often unpredictable, providing spectators with upsets, surprises and unexpected results. It is played on outdoor hard courts and takes place in the beautiful environment of Melbourne Park every January. It is a mandatory stop for top ATP and WTA players and often showcases who is in top shape after thorough end-of-the year preparation. Many say the Australian Open determines who will be the players to watch throughout the rest of the year. Past AO winners include great names such as Federer, Djokovic, Agassi, Laver, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams and many others. Our insider guide to the Australian Open gives you all our best tips on how to score tickets, where to stay, where to sit and how best to enjoy the Australian Open.
In 2024, the Australian Open will begin on a Sunday for the first time. The Sunday start increases the number of AO sessions in the three arenas from 47 to 52. The day session at Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena will feature a minimum of two matches, down from three, to limit the potential of late finishes. Night sessions will continue to feature a minimum of two matches and the John Cain Arena schedule also remains the same.
Australian Open Tickets and Schedule
Australian Open Ticket Options
- Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Caine Arena single session tickets and ground passes on sale October 12, 2023. Arena seats start at $65 and second-week Ground Passes from $19.
- Ticketmaster is now the official ticket agent of the Australian Open (previously it was Ticketek) – use code "MELBOURNEAO24" to access presale tickets. Ticketmaster will offer primary tickets as well as manage the official Australian Open Fan Marketplace (where subscribers can resell their 100% verified tickets).
- Ticket Links: Rod Laver Arena * Margaret Court Arena * Grounds Passes.
- Ticket Resellers – Our recommended Australian Open reseller sites include Ticketmaster (official primary ticket seller and Official Fan Marketplace) and Viagogo. While some of these sites are not "officially" approved by Tennis Australia, they do allow those who REALLY want to watch an opportunity to buy tickets. These are also VERY reputable companies, with excellent customer service and 100% garanteed tickets.
- Australian Open Tickets generally go on sale in early October. More info: ausopen.com
- Australian Open Show courts: Rod Laver Arena (14,570 seats), John Caine Arena (9646), Margaret Court Arena (7500), Show Court Two (3000) and Show Court Three (3000)
- Special AO Days (2024) – Qualifying & Practice: Jan 8-11, Exhibition Matches: Jan 9-12, Kids Day: Jan 13.
- Special Experiences – don’t forget to check out the AO’s AMAZING special experiences. Make your way through the iconic corridors of Rod Laver Arena straight on to centre court for your photo shoot at the Rod Laver Arena Fan Walk, take a Tennis Clinic with a pro on Court 3 or stand on Centre Court during the Finals Presentation Ceremony. Can you even imagine?????? There are so many super cool experiences the AO offers I have not seen at any other tennis tournament (I’m talking to you, US Open!)
Australian Open Schedule and Tickets
Jan 14-28, 2024
- Ticketmaster (official primary ticket seller and Official Fan Marketplace)
- See Viagogo and to compare prices
- Direct Ticket Links: Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Grounds Passes
You may download a PDF of the chart here: Australian Open Schedule and Ticket Chart
Please check the AO website for 2024 updates – the provisional schedule is not out just yet and Ticketmaster is super confusing!
Red filler means no tickets are sold for those matches.
Rod Laver Stadium Schedule (2024)
- Jan 14-28, 2024
– also see Ticketmaster (official primary ticket seller and Official Fan Marketplace) and Viagogo to compare prices. - Direct Ticket Links: Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Grounds Passes.
- Use Code TNTIX | $10 off orders $300+
Margaret Court Stadium Schedule
- Jan 14-22, 2024 (Day Sessions – 11am) and Jan 16-21 (Night Sessions – 7pm)
- Margaret Court Stadium hosts sessions for the first 8 days and 6 nights.
- Ticket Links: Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Grounds Passes.
- Also See Ticketmaster (official primary ticket seller and Official Fan Marketplace) and Viagogo to compare prices.
John Caine Arena Stadium Schedule (TBD)
John Caine Area Stadium hosts sessions for the first 8 days only.
- Unclear in 2024 how this will work, but likely. Jan 13-21, 2024 (First 8 Day Sessions Only – 11am) – Get Australian Open Tickets
More than 700,000 people visit the Australian Open every year (and their goal is 900,000 in 2023), so don’t forget to save your seat in one of the 5 show courts and arenas: Rod Laver Arena, John Caine Arena, Margaret Court Arena (also called Court One) and Show Courts Two and Three, each of which accommodate 3,000 people. The main three stadiums each have a retractable roof, which can be easily closed in case of high temperatures or bad weather conditions. Traditionally, day sessions feature three matches on Rod Laver Arena and three matches on Margaret Court Arena. During the evening there are typically two matches played.
About Australian Open Grounds Passes
Ticket Links: Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Grounds Passes.
Day session ground passes and kids ground passes include access to the grounds at any time on the day stated on the pass, as well as access to all matches scheduled on Melbourne Arena, Show Courts 2 and 3 and the outside courts. Three and five-day ground passes include access to the grounds at any time, on any three or five days of the event except for the middle weekend. Patrons may watch matches scheduled on Melbourne Arena, Show Courts 2 and 3 and the outside courts.
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Australian Open Hotel Picks
Melbourne’s Hotels – Experience the city in a home away from home – stay at condos, vacation rentals, apartments, and enjoy an unlimited number of amenities! Here are our top apartments, hotels, homes and more at which to stay during the Australian Open!!!
Hotels Near Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne & Olympic Parks)
Tip: Change the date below to see what hotels are available on your dates before you hit search
Australian Open Player Hotels Melbourne
A stay in a player hotel provides additional sightings for players, coaches, trainers and celebs. Some of the big players rent private homes, however, many tennis industry insiders stay in these hotels and AO Fans have often bumped into tennis greats at breakfast or in the hotel lobbies and bars and gotten some great selfies and autographs.
- Crown Towers – Sharapova, Nadal, Li Na, Djovak and others unnamed. Want to stay at the best of the best? The Crown Towers Melbourne is the only five star Forbes Travel Guide rated property in Melbourne and boasts rooftop tennis courts, spa and gymnasium. Part of Melbourne’s Crown Casino complex, Crown Towers is located on Yarra River and is considered to be Melbourne’s art deco gateway. Marble, mirrors, crystal chandeliers, luxurious gaming facilities, fashionable boutiques, fine dining, 14 bars and nightclubs, along with The Waiting Room and its classy jazz! Don’t forget to revitalize at the Crown Spa, the only 4-star spa in Melbourne. All of this and more are waiting for you just a mile away from Melbourne Park!
- Sofitel on Collins – they have hosted the "Official Player Party" and offer many rooms that overlook Olympic Park and the Tennis Center as well as the Yarra River. They are a part of AccorHotels, which announced their "exclusive new three-year deal with Tennis Australia as the exclusive Hotel Accommodation Partner of the Australian Open, and secondly with the great Serena Williams as Official Ambassador in Australia over the January Grand Slam event." in December of 2018.
- Art Series – The Olsen – Serena and Venus Williams have stayed here many times (although they now stay in the Sofitel). Their sister hotel, Art Series – The Blackman, has hosted a private art event for tennis stars during the AO, with attendees including Azarenka, Anderson, Verdasco and Leconte.
- Crown Promenade – also located in the Southbank area and walking distance to Melbourne Park. Linked to the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, offering world-class restaurants, bars and shopping.
Take a Tour of Serena Williams Room @ The Sofitel on Collins
Melbourne Vacation Rentals and Apartments
- 381 Cremorne Apartments – Five star boutique accommodatiosn in the heart of Melbourne. 381 Cremorne is one of Melbourne’s newest apartment rentals located only 0.4miles/15 minutes walking from Rod Laver Arena. They are very comfy, spacious, and provide easy access to public transportation. Live like a local and experience the best restaurants, bars, music and sport!
- Adara Richmond – Looking for apartment-style living with friendly staff, and great customer service? Stay at Adara Richmond – another apartment style hotel located only an 8 minute walk from Melbourne Park! Apartments are a great choice for travelers interested in sports, coffee and cafes.
- Closed. The Arena – Experience Melbourne life in this 2-bedroom apartment with a modern, fully equipped kitchen and a private bathroom. And even more! Located 0.7mile from Melbourne Park, The Arena provides its guests with breathtaking sunsets and stunning city views! So grab one of the wines from famous Yarra Valley, take advantage of apartment’s BBQ facilities, relax, and enjoy Melbourne’s beauty.
- Closed. City Tempo – Southbank Collection – AO fan favorites include the the two rooftop tennis courts with views of Port Phillip Bay, splendid views from the bedroom balconies and the short and pleasant walk to Rod Laver Arena. There’s also a huge swimming pool, while everything you could possibly want to see in central Melbourne is within walking distance.
Australian Open Boutique Hotels
- Pullman Melbourne on the Park – Just a 10 minute walk from Melbourne Park, this hotel overlooks the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and Fitzroy Gardens, while offering guests a spa and fitness center.
- Closed. The Richmond Club – Traveling with family or friends? Book this two story holiday home located just 0.9 mile from Rod Laver Arena, and experience true home away from home. Home sleeps up to 5 people and has everything you can imagine having in your own house – a fully equipped kitchen, washer & dryer as well as a parking spot! It is located just minutes away from cafes, shops, and the best gastro pubs in town! Cheers!
Australian Open Large Hotel Chains
- Grand Hyatt Melbourne – get your workout in on the hotel’s tennis court.
- Sheraton Melbourne Hotel – spend a night at Sheraton Melbourne Hotel to be close to Queen Victoria Market
- The Westin Melbourne – pick The Westin on Collins Street to be just a few minutes from the famous Flinders Street and Bourke Street Mall
- Pan Pacific Melbourne and The Langham Melbourne – prefer a river view? Consider the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf or Langham Melbourne for breathtaking views of Yarra River and relax at their signature spas.
Besides traditional hotel accommodation, Melbourne provides visitors with a vast number of apartments, condo hotels, and vacation rentals, which often come with better amenities than traditional hotels. Many of them are larger in size, include fully equipped kitchens, washing machines, fitness centre, pool and BBQ areas. Many Melbourne Vacation Rentals are located in city centre, less than 1 mile from Melbourne Park, allowing you easy access to Rod Laver, while you get to live and experience a true Melbourne lifestyle!
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Australian Open Provisional Schedule
This schedule needs to be updated for 2024 and will be at the end of October.
Jan 14-28, 2024
Qualifying Rounds – Tues to Fri the Week Before the Australian Open (Jan 7-13, 2024)
- Entry to Melbourne Park during this period is free and play is on the outside courts. Gates open @ 9:30am.
Kids Tennis Day – Saturday before the AO (Jan 14)
Sunday – Sunday before the Australian Open (Jan 15)
- Gates open 9:30am. Only 1 entry point – Garden Square. NO entry at GSO. No access to Ball Park. AO Festival Entry will open at 3pm.
Australian Open Week 1 Schedule
Daily at 11am and 7pm. Gates open at 10am and 5pm. Day sessions tickets available for Rod Laver, Margaret Court, John Caine and Grounds Passes. Evening session tickets sold for Laver and Court only.
- Mon – Men’s & Women’s R1
- Tues – Men’s & Women’s R1
- Wed – Men’s & Women’s R2
- Thurs – Men’s & Women’s R2
- Fri – Men’s & Women’s R3
- Sat – Men’s & Women’s R3 (last evening play Margaret Court, evening only on Rod Laver going forward)
- Sun – Men’s & Women’s R4
Australian Open Week 2 Schedule
Mon -Tues at 11am and 7pm. Remainder of schedule varies as below.
- Mon – Men’s & Women’s R4 (last day of Melbourne-Hisense tickets)
- Tues – Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals
- Wed – Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals
- Thurs – Women’s Singles Semifinal (day), Men’s Singles Semifinal (eve)
- Fri – Women’s Doubles Final, Men’s Singles Semifinal
- Sat – Women’s Singles Final @ 7:30pm, followed by Mixed Doubles Final
- Sun – Men’s Doubles Final @ 3, Men’s Singles Final @ 7:30pm
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Australian Open Insider Tips Q&A
1. How Do We See the Players Practice at the Australian Open?
The AO Grounds has a practice village (look at the South East corner of any Grounds Map). However, the big names are almost always on Courts 21-23, which is not in practice village – go figure. There are live schedules and scoreboards all over the groups, plus the AO app, so be sure to check to see when your faves are playing.
2. How are the Qualifyers at the AO?
It is free to attend the Quallies at the AO, but honestly, not worth it. Unlike the US Open and Wimbledon, there’s hardly anything to see or do. The shops, restaurants, etc are not set up. There’s construction everywhere and the staff is running around setting up. As for watching players, my experience did not give a proper perspective as the Australian bushfires were taking place when I was there and everything was crazy. But I did ask a few friends who live locally and they all said no goes to the Quallies – it’s just not a thing at the AO the way it is at other Grand Slams.
Australian Open Parking, Shuttles and Driving
There is very limited parking available each day for families in Melbourne Park’s Eastern Car Park, which must be pre-booked via Ticketek. Public parking can be found at Yarra Park via Gate 3 and Gate 5. Disabled car parking is subject to availability and must be reserved with your tickets. For those being dropped off by car, there are designated areas on the north side of Olympic Boulevard opposite Olympic Park.
Public Transport Victoria = Your best friend!
Unlike other world famous tennis venues, Melbourne Park is conveniently located in the close proximity of city center and some of Melbourne’s key visitor attractions, so your best choice is to pick a place close to Melbourne and Olympic Parks. However, if you happen to explore other parts of the city, the well-developed public transportation system will take you back to your favorite tennis site. Make sure to always have your phone, so you can access metlinkmelbourne.com.au and find a right way back to Hisense or Rod Laver Arena at any time! You may take the FREE Yarra Trams on Route 70, trains to Richmond, Flinders Street and Jolimont stations located just minutes from Melbourne Park, or take bus 605 Route to Batman Avenue located next to the main entrance. If you, however, absolutely need your car, your best bet is public parking at Yarra Park.
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Venue Information
Rod Laver Arena
Melbourne & Olympic Parks
GPO Box 4611
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Show courts: Rod Laver Arena (14,570 seats), Hisense Arena (9646), Margaret Court Arena (7500), Show Court Two (3000) and Show Court Three (3000). The Australian Open not only offers some of the most exciting tennis in the world, but the site, location, event and destination are as much show pieces as the tennis. One can book guided tours and visit player locker rooms, explore the Walk of Champions and see the halls of Melbourne Park with all the famous trophies. Additionally, the AO has incorporated a Festival, an Autograph Island where one can collect valuable signatures from their favorite players and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame!
Rod Laver Arena Seating Map
Striped sections indicate seats most exposed to the sun.
Margaret Court Arena Seating Map
Striped sections indicate seats most exposed to the sun.
Australian Open Grounds Map
Melbourne & Olympic Parks Grounds Map
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Australian Open Transfer & Ground Transport
Booking.com
New!! Booking.com now lets you book your flight, hotel, car rental, attractions & airport transfers with a few clicks, and savings. Check out their Travel Packages and save BIG on your trip.
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Australian Open Car Rentals
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Australian Open Flight Info
The Melbourne Airport (MEL) is about a 30 minute drive (South East) to Melbourne Park and a taxi will cost approximately $40.
FlightHub is our favorite site to search for cheap flights to anywhere. They have amazing customer service and their search results allow you to narrow down by dozens of options, including airline, # stops, etc, as well as sign up for fare alerts.
Sometimes, waiting a few days or a week may make a huge difference in airfare prices. Check the cheapest flight options at FlightHub.
Cheap Flight Tips:
1) Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the cheapest days to fly. Next lowest fares are usually Thursday and Saturday (which usually means you can catch quarter finals on Friday, and head out on Saturday)
2) If you've already searched multiple times on a site for airfare, trying going private or incognito on your browser, which may show newer and lower rates
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Melbourne Popular Activities & Things to Do
Vibrant hub of style, sport, culture and dining, that is Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, and the 2nd most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Melbourne is for everyone – for the young and the older ones, for nature lovers, art enthusiasts, sport fans, and culinary addicts.
Visit National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), and experience the oldest and most visited art gallery in Australia, stop at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image to learn about the history and development of a television and film, and check out Melbourne’s Cricket Ground, city’s main stadium for cricket and the beloved Aussie rules-style of rugby.
If you are a nature admirer, make sure to visit Melbourne’s Zoo, Australia’s oldest zoo, located in Royal Park, and Royal Botanic Gardens close to Yarra River. In addition, it is worth making time for Twelve Apostles Rock Formation in Port Campbell National Park.
Although it can get really warm in Melbourne during the Australian Open, the weather provides visitors with the number of benefits in the form of delicious fresh produce from the local markets such as Queen Victoria Markets, 5 regions with about 70 wineries located in Yarra Valley offering culinary tours, and the endless dining and rooftop bars opportunities during warm evening nights!
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Prior Australian Open Dates:
- Jan 16-29, 2023
- Jan 17-30, 2022
- February 8-21, 2021 (originally Jan 18-31, 2021)
- Jan 20 – Feb 2, 2020
- Jan 14-27, 2019
- Jan 15-28, 2018
