Find more event details – and much more – in the Australian Open Official Program. Your guide to all things AO and tennis generally, the souvenir publication is packed with player profiles, feature stories, stunning imagery as well as stats and facts. You can purchase your copy at Melbourne Park, in Australian newsagents or online at the Australian Open shop.
In our latest of the AO Event Guide series, we share key details you won't want to miss as the past, present and future merge spectacularly at the Australian Open.
Next-gen vibes
TOPCOURT, a vibrant new precinct in Middle Terrace at Birrarung Marr, brings the vibes for the next generation of tennis and entertainment fans. It features live music and DJs, a public Padel Court, retail pop-ups and a host of gaming setups. TOPCOURT is the ultimate hangout spot to chill with friends at AO 2025.
Australian Tennis Hall of Fame
AO 1927 women’s champion Esna Boyd will join 47 other Australian champions when she is posthumously inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. Boyd contested seven consecutive AO finals between 1922 and 1928, defeating fellow Australian Sylvia (Lance) Harper in her only victory.
Golden anniversaries
Australian legends Evonne Goolagong Cawley and John Newcombe are celebrating 50 years since their respective second Australian Open titles in 1975. Newcombe features on the coin tossed before all matches, as Goolagong Cawley did in 2024.
Special silverware
Since 1934, each Australian Open women’s champion has been presented with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, which is named in honour of the late Daphne Akhurst (1903-1933), a five-time AO singles champion. The Australian Open men’s champion lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, which is named after the late Sir Norman Brookes (1877-1968), a former Australian tennis champion. It was first awarded to Fred Perry at the Australian Championships in 1934.
Having a ball
A squad of over 400 ballkids — ranging from 12-15 years old — include Kia Korea representatives, China Open ballkids, First Nations Ballkids, Interstate Leadership Program ballkids as well as two representatives from France. Registrations for AO 2026 opened on 1 December, with trials starting in May. The final squad is selected from more than 2500 applicants.