AO Opening Week, presented by the Herald Sun, brings the world’s best players to Melbourne for a series of charity matches
Six thousand tennis racquets will be given away to children this week to encourage young fans to get active and follow in the footsteps of champions.
Victoria
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Tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley has hailed the Australian Open’s new week of Melbourne Park action a win for the sport, children’s charities and Victoria’s major events calendar.
It comes as Open chiefs are promising to make the exciting new week of activities an annual fixture, with more events, music and on-court action than ever before.
AO Opening Week, presented by the Herald Sun and starting on Monday, brings the world’s best players to Melbourne for a series of charity matches, public practice sessions and special fan experiences at discount prices.
Goolagong Cawley said the extended program could only inspire the next generation of tennis champions.
“Kids can create dreams just by seeing those players and the experience may make them want to be a player in the future,’’ she said.
“If not a player, maybe a coach. Things flow from playing any sport, and in particular tennis flowed for me.’’
The Herald Sun can reveal that 6000 tennis racquets will be given away at Opening Week – from Monday to Friday – to encourage children to get active and follow in the footsteps of the champions.
Kids can register for a free racquet as they arrive at Melbourne Park and collect them from a designated location when they depart. Signs and QR codes at entry points will direct patrons.
Goolagong Cawley, in the 50th anniversary year of her first Australian Open singles title, will feature on the AO coin tossed before every Melbourne Park match, including Opening Week and the Open.
Returning former champions – and mums – Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki kick off the charity match series on Tuesday night.
Most tickets to the charity matches are $20, with prime seats close to the baseline $50.
Fans will be able to watch international stars practise on Rod Laver Arena between noon and 4pm from Monday, for just $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
Amid strong ticket sales, Open director Craig Tiley confirmed Opening Week would become a permanent part of the Melbourne summer.
“The whole initiative was to bring the fans up close and personal to the great players,’’ he said.
“This is just the beginning of what is going to grow into a significant week of entertainment and tennis and we may break out into other branches of entertainment.
“The taste that you get from Opening Week 2024 is just going to be the forerunner of something that is going to be pretty special into the future.
“While this used to be a two-week event it’s becoming a legitimate three-week event with opportunities for players and fans.’’
Tennis Australia chief tennis officer Tom Larner said putting the world’s best on show a week early and giving away thousands of Hot Shots tennis racquets was a world-first.
“We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate the first grand slam of the year and put free racquets into the hands of thousands of kids at the Australian Open,’’ he said.
“Having the world’s best players right here, playing in a grand slam, gives us an incredible platform to grow interest and participation in tennis.”
Australian Open champions Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, young gun Carlos Alcaraz, Aussie Alex de Minaur and Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas will be among the big names to face off in the charity matches later in the week.
Australian Open bars and restaurants will open for qualifying matches as future stars try to qualify for the main draw from January 8-11.