Melbourne Park

Melbourne Park – Home of the Australian Open

Melbourne Park first opened in 1988 as "Flinders Park" before being renamed in 1996 to the internationally recognised name it carries today. Part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct, the venue has hosted the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the tennis calendar year, ever since. Its centrepiece is Rod Laver Arena, seating around 15,000, flanked by John Cain Arena (approx. 10,500 seats) and Margaret Court Arena (approx. 7,500 seats) — joined since 2022 by the new Kia Arena, adding roughly 5,000 more. Across the wider precinct, 35 tennis courts host more than 800,000 visitors over the two weeks of the Australian Open each year.

Three roofs, one advantage: tennis whatever the weather

What sets Melbourne Park apart among Grand Slam venues is that three of its main arenas — Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena — all have retractable roofs. Margaret Court Arena's roof, for instance, can close in around five minutes. Given Melbourne's notoriously changeable summer weather, which can swing from scorching heat to rain within a single day's play, that's far more than a technical footnote — it keeps the tournament's biggest matches on schedule.

A historic moment: the longest Grand Slam final ever played

On 29 January 2012, Rod Laver Arena witnessed tennis history: Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in the men's final after 5 hours and 53 minutes — still the longest Grand Slam final ever played. A match that showcased both the drama of the sport and the arena's ability to hold an entire city's attention deep into the night.

Right in the heart of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct

Melbourne Park sits just a short walk from Richmond and Jolimont train stations, along the banks of the Yarra River and right next door to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Between 2010 and 2022, roughly AUD 972 million was invested across three major redevelopment phases. Beyond the Australian Open, Melbourne Park stays busy year-round, hosting netball (Super Netball), basketball (NBL) and major concerts.