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Australian Open to allow up to 30,000 fans to attend Melbourne Park


Victoria’s sports minister has announced up to 30,000 fans a day will be allowed to attend the Australian Open. 

Martin Pakula announced on Saturday morning that crowds would be at approximately 50 per cent of previous years, with 390,000 people expected to attend the Australian Open over the two weeks.

The 30,000 figure will be reduced to 25,000 per day from the start of the quarter-finals, with 12,500 during the day session and 12,500 during the night sessions.

The daily limit will see the average attendance from recent Australian Opens halved, but still provides a huge boost for players, organisers, and fans after the 2020 calendar was played almost exclusively without fans following last year’s edition.

Pakula said: “Rod Laver Arena will have incredible atmosphere, not that different to the atmosphere we’ve seen at all the Opens in the years past.

“It will not be the same but it will be the most significant international event with crowds that the world has seen in many, many months.

“That’s a testament to the work Victorians have done to get our [coronavirus] numbers to zero.”

Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said it would ‘set an example’ to the rest of the world and cement Melbourne’s place as the international sporting capital.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.