Opening Week at the Australian Open may be one of the best times to visit Melbourne Park.
The first Grand Slam of the season officially starts with the main draw from Sunday, but gates have been open since Monday with record crowds enjoying the vast precinct – with kids, sports fans, influencers, celebrities and tennis greats all spotted.
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More than 63,000 people came through the gates during the first two days – up from 25,672 in 2025 – and it’s not hard to see why.
The player and punter experience at the AO differs: for a player the stadiums and crowds within them get bigger and louder as they progress through the tournament. For the fans, however, the bustling fanfare outside Rod Laver Arena tends to dissipate as finals draw closer and attention turns exclusively to centre court.
If buzzing atmosphere is what you want without the cost of an arena ticket, then Opening Week is unparalleled value for money.
There’s the tension that weighs on the shoulders of those still looking to qualify for the main draw and earn record prize money, which this year starts at $40.5K.
Australian James McCabe admitted he fed off the crowd during his first-round qualifying match in which he beat compatriot Pavle Marinkov, clocking serves up to 205km/h – slow for McCabe.
“I was serving 235,” the 22-year-old said. “I had three ab strains, so I’ve gone down.”
“Your first match at Australian Open in a year is always going to be a bit of nerves, especially with this big crowd,” he added. “But I was just happy that this time it wasn’t 45 degrees on court. The weather was quite normal.
“I love playing with the crowd. It’s amazing. The Australians don’t realise how much it actually helps us.”
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Top seeds share the locker rooms with qualifiers as they drop in for open practice sessions, media and PR opportunities. American Frances Tiafoe was on site on Wednesday for a hit, after joining Australian fashion designer Nadia Bartel to open the Grey Goose Courtside Bar on Tuesday morning.
The world No.31 turns 28 next week though is firmly focused on his routine, rather than a signature Lemon Ace cocktail, in the lead-up to the main draw.
“I remember when I turned 21 here a bunch of years ago, when I won on my birthday – that was one of the best birthdays I probably ever had,” Tiafoe recalls.
“Being able to win, and turn 21, and get to quarterfinals at a Slam for the first time, that was a great experience. I just love being in Australia and happy to be back here.”
There’s plenty of action to see on all courts throughout the precinct during Opening Week and while the tournament is, of course, all about tennis, there’s plenty to do and see outside of that, from bars to marquee food stalls, concerts, games and plenty of aesthetically pleasing décor.
An inflatable water slide and swing ball tennis sets have been popular among children, while tweens and teens have been making a beeline for Australian beauty retailer MECCA, which this year has transformed from a single level stall at TOPCOURT to a three-storey hot pink dream house that Barbie would envy at the opposite end of the precinct.
Speaking of beauty and fashion, Henne co-founder Bartel has some tips on what to wear whether you’re watching matches or just enjoying a day out.
“I think white always at the tennis works, tennis whites, it’s just something that everyone always turns to. I think there will be a lot of denim this year as well, sheer pieces are going to be really in, and probably different textures,” she said.
“Sun smart always really important – lots of hats and sunnies," she adds.
“When you see tennis fashion it’s what you can wear in your day to day, and that’s why so many Australians connect to it. It’s pieces that you can see what someone is wearing and wear it yourself.
“I think there will still be a lot of browns, and colour as well.”
Opening Week continues with the final round of qualifying on Thursday.