Excitement for Aus Open builds as restaurants draw meal inspiration from tennis, ticket prices cut

Melbourne is getting into the Australian Open spirit by slashing ticket prices and serving quirky dishes in restaurants ahead of the tournament, including blue ‘tennis court’ inspired sushi.

Melbourne’s Australian Open is on serve to slam home new crowd records as the city prepares to dish up what the city is best known for — sport, food and entertainment.

With the event less than two weeks away, organisers are bracing for record crowds after ticket prices were slashed for the people’s tennis tournament.

The Grand Slam event featuring the world’s best players will hold court in the city from January 14-27.

Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said the tournament would be “bigger and better than ever before”.

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Dor Li from Sushi Sushi serves up some specially made sushi dusted with natural blue algae powder — inspired by the blue court of Melbourne Park. Picture: Tony Gough

“Ticket sales are tracking incredibly well and we delighted to confirm that we are ahead on last year’s figures,” he told the Herald Sun.

“The Australian Open has grown so much — it’s now the biggest sports and entertainment event in the world in January and fans can enjoy three weeks of great tennis and lots of entertainment.”

A crowd record of 743,667 was set last year at Melbourne Park over the two weeks — almost 15,000 more than the previous year.

Tourists have already started flocking to the city delivering an economic boom for Melbourne with the Boxing Day Test already proving a hit with local, interstate and international tourists.

On Thursday, organisers will reveal some of the city’s most famed restaurants will be dishing up food for famished fans including Biggie Smalls, Hellenic Republic, Mamasita, Burger Project and Mary and a Little Lamb.

And now even a sushi roll has been given the tennis treatment with a Blue Uramaki — an inside out roll, dusted with blue algae powder.

“(It’s a) tribute to the famous blue courts at the Australian Open, giving the sushi a natural blue colouring,” Sushi Sushi executive chef Antony Henare said.

With the world’s best players slated to play including Roger Federer, Serena Williams and temperamental countryman Nick Kyrgios there will also be a racquet being made outside the courts.

A sushi roll has been given the tennis treatment with a Blue Uramaki. Picture: Tony Gough

On the AO Live Stage British big names Bastille and Craig David will play to fans as will Aussie musicians Dean Lewis and chart topping sibling Angus and Julia Stone.

In an ace for tennis fans, ticket prices will be lower to make it more affordable for families and diehards.

The starting price of a seat on centre court has been slashed by $15 during the day and $20 at night and entry-level tickets to the men’s final have dropped by $110.

The popular ground passes giving access to all outdoor courts and the AO Live Stage will be frozen at $49.

Melbourne’s unpredictable weather, has forced Tennis Australia to recently unveil a new heat policy to protect players from sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park.

The new extreme heat policy, which will dictates when it is safe for players, comes after many players roasted the tournament after on court temperatures of up to 69C were reached in some of the long matches last year.

For tickets go to www.ticketek.com.au.

@AleksDevic

Originally published as Excitement for Aus Open builds as restaurants draw meal inspiration from tennis, ticket prices cut