Turnstiles open for 2023 Australian Open

The gates have opened at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, with hundreds of thousands of visitors set to watch the first Grans Slam tournament of 2023.

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos this morning joined Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley and former Australian Open champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Melbourne Park this morning to mark the beginning of the event.

Tennis fans have already enjoyed extra activities during the qualifying week from since 9th January, with crowds able to watch and partake in the Tennis Players for Peace charity match, the annual and much-loved Kids Tennis Day, and Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios playing an exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena.

Forward bookings data shows strong demand for hotels in Melbourne over the next fortnight, with bookings for Saturday 21st January already at 76% capacity, which will only increase in the coming week.

The Australian Open marks the start of Victoria’s packed calendar of international sporting events including the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Super Rugby’s Super Round Melbourne, Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Bledisloe Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Last year alone, the Victorian Government delivered a record year of major events with 6.9 million attendees to sporting, music, arts and cultural events right across the state.

Advising of the value of major events to Melbourne, Minister Dimopoulos stated “the Australian Open is on again and Melbourne is in the global spotlight as the world watches the best players battle it out right here.”

Lower image shows Ash Barty on court during Saturday's Kids Tennis Day.