China, Sydney trying to steal Australian Open from Melbourne, Craig Tiley says

An Andrews government minister insists the Australian Open will stay in Melbourne despite warnings the cash-strapped tournament was at risk of being lost.

Craig Tiley says Melbourne could lose the Australian Open without a new stadium.

Government Minister Anthony Carbines has declared the Australian Open won’t be stolen from Melbourne, despite concerns raised by tennis boss Craig Tiley.

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley had warned Melbourne risked losing the Australian Open to an interstate or overseas city unless there was continued development of its sports precinct, including a new stadium.

Melbourne has a long-term contract for the grand slam event — one of only four in the world — and successive state governments have poured almost $1bn into a 10 year redevelopment of Melbourne Park.

But Mr Tiley revealed private equity investors and foreign governments had attempted to hijack the iconic Melbourne event at the height of Covid lockdowns, with a view to move the tournament interstate or overseas.

“Yep – we had a lot of people interested,’’ he said.

“Private equity know that when it’s in good times it’s a very healthy business, very attractive for private equity.

“So there was quite a bit of interest and that was just the beginning of outside interest in the event. And you expect it.’’

Tennis Australia has set a lofty goal of attracting a record 900,000 fans to Melbourne Park for the Open. Picture: Nicki Connolly

But on Friday, Mr Carbines said the Australian Open wasn’t going anywhere.

“The best thing Victorians can do is get out there and show their support.

“We’re not surprised that there will always be those seeking (the tournament) from other countries and other states.

Mr Carbines said the government had already made several significant investments to ensure the event’s success.

“We need to make sure that we put those to the test with big crowds at this Australian Open,” he said.

“Our investment to date has made sure it remains a pre-eminent event across the world.”

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said hosting the Australian Open brought massive benefits to the city.

“For us, it remains a key event here in Melbourne and we’ll continue to support it in any way we can.

“The issues raised by Craig are really best discussed with the Melbourne Olympics Park Trust and the state government.”

Craig Tiley says Melbourne needs a new stadium to keep the Open. Picture: Tennis Australia

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Mr Tiley also revealed Tennis Australia was cash strapped due to staging the past two Opens before limited crowds, under strict Andrews government restrictions.

Despite Melbourne recently extending its contract for the event until 2046, he said foreign raiders had circled as Tennis Australia exhausted its cash reserve.

“It’s gone from $80m to zero, pretty much,’’ he said of the finances Tennis Australia had on hand to meet short-term and emergency funding needs.

“Basically we’ve got to start building the cash reserve again.’’

He said the NSW government had previously made a play to shift the event to Sydney and Chinese interests were keen to take it to Shanghai.

Asked if Tennis Australia was approached to move the event elsewhere as Melbourne fell on tough times in 2020 and 21, he said: “absolutely’’.

“I know it was discussed and it was argued, absolutely,’’ he said.

“From a personal point, the Australian Open should always be in Melbourne – I’ve always advocated for that and I think it is a Melbourne event in my view.

“But I’m just one person.

“There is an organisation, there is a board, there are stakeholders and there is also the company for the future.

“There was a period back in 2010 when there was significant interest from Sydney and significant interest from Shanghai.

“To the point where proposals were put on the table around what it would take to move the grand slam to those cities.’’

To shore up its long-term future in Melbourne, Mr Tiley said a new master plan was needed to expand Melbourne Park and ensure the Open kept up with or exceeded what Wimbledon, the US and French Opens offered.

“I think there needs to be another master plan and further development,’’ he said.

“It’s an ongoing thing.

Tennis Australia was approached to move the event in 2020 and 2021. Picture: AFP

He said Melbourne Park needed a new stadium, more tennis courts and consideration should be given to expanding its footprint over the railyards and land opposite Olympic Boulevard.

“We do need to develop another master plan and work with the state government on it,’’ he said.

“A lot of people will say, ‘Oh there is no need. We’ve just finished the redevelopment’.

“But you’ve got to do it now for the future.

“And there is going to be a need for another stadium, whether that be a refurbishment or a replacement of John Cain Arena, I don’t know but there will be a need for that.

“There will be a need for more courts, as the event grows onto a three week event.’’

He said Wimbledon, the US and French Opens had all increased the footprints of the events and Melbourne needed to keep pace.

“Expansion will be needed,’’ he said.

“There was a period when we were way behind and then we caught up and everyone was together.

“Now those other three are making massive jumps and they can because they have space.

“So what is going to be our massive jump to ensure we don’t fall behind.’’

He said the fact the other grand slams owned their land but the Open leased its facilities from the government was another danger to the long term future of the event in Melbourne.

“So it is the one grand slam that has the easiest opportunity to go somewhere else,’’ he said.

In a bid to get finances back in the black, Tennis Australia has set a lofty goal of attracting a record 900,000 fans to Melbourne Park for the Open, from January 16-29.

“That is going to be a hard target to hit but we are pushing it for ourselves,’’ he said.

“If we get to that point we will have had the best AO we’ve ever had.’’