Tips for Aust Open Visit

[Day Tripper]

I am planning on heading to Melbourne next Jan to view the Aust Open for the first time. Got too see Federer and Nadal play live before they retire and being from New Zealand this is my best chance.

I would be really keen to get some opinions from those on here who have been before as to the best way to check out the event.

Thanks

 

[counterpuncher]

Center court tickets go on sale in about a month or two, keep an eye out on the website for when. These are going to be a must to see either of them. Other days, you can cheap it and just get a ground pass in the first week to see games on the outside and show courts.

 

[tata]

I went to the finals this year but the tickets weren't available until October. I looked at the day the tickets were available for public sale and the lower sections for the finals were already gone, probably reserved for AO members who got pre-sale tickets. However, if you want to go in the first week and watch the early rounds, you will be able to get good seats down low. Regardless of how far back you sit, Rod Laver arena looks bigger than it is on TV. I watched the final in the upper sections behind the Melbourne sign and it was still crystal clear to watch.

To get the most buzz out of it, I recommend going in the first week and get a ground pass. You get to see so many more players and functions on. When I got there on the finals, all the stalls and tents were pretty much packed up and ready to go. All the souveneir stores were low on stock or had none left or merchandise. Going in the first week you might catch players practicing on the outside courts and signing autographs.

 

[MAXXply]

Question for fans who've been to all or most of the Slams:
Is the venue space and room to move at Melbourne Park any more or less spacious than RG, Wimby or Flushing Meadows?
In your opinion which Slam is the squashiest and which is the roomiest?

Every year I visit AO and it seems to get more and more crowded

 

[Jeffrey573639]

Not a real tip for visiting the AO, but make sure you enjoy Melbourne. I went there recently and it's a lovely mellow city.

 

[looseleftie]

Just don't walk around the city in the early hours of the morning.. Very dodgy!!!

Aside from that, AO is fantastic, esp first week...Great restaurants and pubs in Melbourne..

 

[MarkZepa]

I train a Melbourne Park , ( hehe )
Its a beautiful place, lots of room, you should definatley go!!

 

[The_Order]

You need Rod Laver Arena tickets (very rarely do they play on Hisense). If you want to watch them play later than round 1-3 you need to get those tickets asap (when they go on sale).

I'd go on the first couple of days too and check it out there's always a lot of activities you can do with a ground pass and you can go and watch the Fed and Rafa practice sessions for autographs.

 

[diggler]

Normally I get Hisense Arena for days 1-4. Hisense is smaller than Rod Laver. You also get more matches because it is just 1 session on days 1-4 and no night session.

Having said that, you are unlikely to get Federer or Nadal on Hisense.

Fed was scheduled to be at Hisense in 2012 for a match. I was quite excited, but his opponent withdrew. Damn! I did see Federer at the Davis Cup in Sydney though.

I hate ground passes. Lots of queueing with no guaranteed seat. The best thing about a ground pass is when they have a men's night match on Margaret Court. It is cooler at night, and a lot of the crowd has gone home.

The only way to guarantee seeing Federer and Nadal is to buy Rod Laver Day 1 Night 1 Day 2 Night 2.

Even then, Federer might be shifted onto Hisense, particularly if his ranking has dropped by January and Tomic gets a match on Rod Laver.

 

[Oz_Rocket]

Can also highly recommend a ground pass for a few days in the first week. It can be a bit crowded in places but you get to see so much tennis up close. Only day they have sold out for is the middle Saturday.

Ticket prices for Rod Laver start to get steep in the second week but as others have said in week one you can easily get reasonable seats the day beforehand once the draw is known. That way you can guarantee seeing who you want (my kids wanted to see Djokovic this year).

And take some time to see Melbourne and visit places like the city and restaurants (being of Italian extraction Lygon St is a must for me).

 

[RNadal]

Something nice you could do, in case you want to enjoy the tournament as a whole and not just the big guns, is to buy a pack of 3 ground passes. There will be lots of matches going on the outside courts. And once the the schedule is off you can buy a Hisense or Rod Laver ticket to watch your favourites

Enjoy the tournament.

 

[Day Tripper]

Awesome tips guys much appreciated! Another question for those that have watched lost of live tennis. What do you think the best vantage point is. Side on or behind one player etc?

 

[counterpuncher]

As per tv, behind the player for me. Some people love side on, but I hate the constant head movement from left to right and if you are on the umpire's chair side, your view is usually obscured, unless you are high up.

 

[Jeffrey573639]

I haven't watched ANY live tennis but I've heard behind a play is significantly better than side on.

 

[3fees]

Don't feed any joey's(kangaroos), Females are called sheila's, . Dont make a pass at your female mixed dbls partner shes married.
Buying beer insist on foster's lager. Now you'll pass like a local not a tourist.

 

[Rhino]

I've been three times to the Aussie Open (2006, 2009, and 2012) and seen Federer play on each occasion.

The first two times I just rocked up to Melbourne a couple of days before it started with no tickets. I went to Ticketeck (or whatever it's called) and got tickets easily for rounds one to four. There is also a ticket booth outside the grounds near the main entrances.

In 2012 I wanted to make sure I saw Federer and I guessed he'd at least make the 4th round, so I bought tickets online in advance for all 4th round matches on Rod Laver (i.e. day and night sessions for two days of 4th round action). Sure enough I saw Federer vs Tomic (as well as Nadal, Djokovic, etc).

These days can we be sure he will make the 4th round? I would get tickets for the 1st or 2nd round.

Another cool way to see Federer in Melbourne is to pick up the schedule for the practice courts. This is available, it's pinned up around the place or you can just ask for it at the info desk. Then you can head to his practice session (I think it's usually court 17) and watch Fed courtside. Get there early for a front row position because it gets crowded, but it's well worth it.

Obviously stay in central Melbourne, you can walk to the event or get the free trams, it's very easy. Look at a map in advance and get a hotel as near as is convenient.

Be aware also that some people don't use their tickets and return them. In this instance you can upgrade your ticket from a ground pass or get better seats. There is a queue just for this near the Arena. I once got courtside tickets in Rod laver that someone else had just returned. All I did was ask.

 

[Rhino]

One more bit of advice: Don't get a ticket for a seat that gets direct sunlight. It's EXTREMELY hot, and it's very hard to remain in those seats all day. I made that mistake once. Make sure you opt for a shaded seat.

 

[Rhino]

Question for fans who've been to all or most of the Slams:
Is the venue space and room to move at Melbourne Park any more or less spacious than RG, Wimby or Flushing Meadows?
In your opinion which Slam is the squashiest and which is the roomiest?

Every year I visit AO and it seems to get more and more crowded

I've been to all the slams and Roland Garros is the squashiest. The total area for the event is significantly smaller than the others and you can sometimes even get stuck in people jams.

Melbourne is busy but spacious, probably my fave to attend.

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Don't feed any joey's(kangaroos), Females are called sheila's, . Dont make a pass at your female mixed dbls partner shes married.
Buying beer insist on foster's lager. Now you'll pass like a local not a tourist.

this may have been true in 1975, but even then I kind of doubt it.

Certainly not the part about Fosters, no Australian drinks that crap, I don't think you can even buy it in Australia any more, I can't remember the last time I saw any..

buy Boags is my advice to you

anyway

I always go for the Wednesday through to the Saturday of the first week..

try and get Rod Laver Tickets for the Friday night if you can, seems to always be a good match!

The day passes are great because, as others have said, you can find great tennis on outside courts. (pro tip, check the schedule bofre you get there, you can find people like Ferrer on outside showcourts and have front row seats by turning up early)

although you might have to sit through a WTA match or two first..

the big showcourts and MCA can be hard to get seats for if you aren't quick, though, best to make sure you know who you want to see.

of course, great thing about the AO is how many show courts there actually are..

the good thing is you can just wander around and find Rafa practicing or seeds on tiny courts where you can be literally feet away..

there is nothing quite like seeing these guys up so close, mind boggling tennis..

have fun!!!

and email me, I'll be there, there will be beer!

 

[Oz_Rocket]

Melbourne is busy but spacious, probably my fave to attend.

Not having been to any other slams apart from the AO, I'd be interested to know what makes it your favourite?