Australian Open 2024: Patrons slam new seating initiatives, Jordan Thompson explodes

A new initiative at the Aus Open caused Jordan Thompson to label the event the ‘wokest tournament ever,’ slamming the new rule created for the betterment of the fans.

Australian Open fans were all-but locked out of watching five-time runner-up Andy Murray in what could be one of his final appearances at Melbourne Park.

As tournament organisers celebrated a record first Monday day session attendance figure of more than 50,000, swathes of fans were stuck queuing for entry into the non-ticketed Kia Arena while hundreds of seats inside remained vacant.

One fan said she had attended the Australian Open “most years” and that this was “the worst” the lines had been, adding she had waited for “more than an hour” to watch Murray but was consigned to listening to the action in the ever-growing queue.

Safe to say Andy Murray could have filled a bigger stadium. Massive lines around Kia Arena; these folks won’t get in.#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/lonC1caYmH

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 15, 2024

She was one of many who felt the pass out system was partly to blame.

Fans could scan a QR code and be given 30 minutes to return to their seats.

Queues stretched out from Kia Arena at every entrance. Those stuck waiting said they had watch some patrons take pass outs and simply not return.

Despite the new rules allowing fans to enter at the end of each game, rather than just change of ends, the lines only grew as Murray toiled through his second set against Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

At the end of each game only a handful of fans were plucked from the line to take their place in the stands.

Those queuing as a group had it even worse, with priority given to single spectators to help fill the vacant seats scattered around the stadium.

Some fans have been left frustrated by long queues at Melbourne Park. (Photo by Diego Fedele/Getty Images)

Even once play resumed, dozens of empty seats could be seen from outside of the stadium through the entry tunnel.

One X user wrote: “The @AustralianOpen is a victim of its own success at this time of day. After the Margaret Court sessions finished I went to several courts – long lines & no chance of getting in. At Show Court 3 the attendants are telling people not to bother trying.”

Another claimed to have waited for three and a half hours to enter the Adrian Mannarino-Stan Wawrinka clash on Kia Arena that came prior to Murray’s match.

It would seem Australian Open organisers are fighting a losing battle with both fans and players this year.

Despite the new rules implemented to help fans return to the action at the end of every game, the record attendances have ensured many are being left listening from outside.

Meanwhile the players have already been vocal about the change – and not in a good way.

Aussie Jordan Thompson voiced his frustration at fans moving through the stands between games.

“You’re kidding me, really? Oh my god … this is the wokest tournament ever,” he argued.

In the press conference after the victory, Thompson said the new rule was a dud and was adamant he had not been told about it until the chair umpire explained it midway through the second set.

“I had no idea. How many years have we been playing tennis? And then all of a sudden they spring on us that they (fans) can come in between (at end of games),” Thompson said.

The passout system has really screwed over people in the queue some of us have waited for 4 sets of the Manarino/Wawrinka match. There are empty seats inside being saved for people who might not even come back. I've been 10m from the front of the queue for 3.5hrs...

— Jo Farmer (@JoannaFarmer) January 15, 2024

“It just disrupts everyone’s rhythm. If someone is walking out the back and you are throwing the ball (for the) toss-up it is impossible to see because you have got a moving person behind it.

“It is in my opinion not good. I’ll choose my words carefully.

“I just don’t understand why we would do that.

“We are out there working. That is our job, we are tennis players. We don’t come in and storm into an office while someone is in a meeting.

“It’s like someone is just barging through the door. It might not seem that way but it is.

“It is very off-putting.”

Even 10-time reigning champion Novak Djokovic was not impressed.

During his four-hour first round epic against 18-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic on Sunday night, Djokovic argued with the chair umpire and even some fans in the crowd.

“Look, I mean, I understand the motive behind it is to enhance and improve the experience for fans, right?” Djokovic said.

“We do play for fans. We want fans to have a great, thrilling experience of being out on the court.

“It’s hard, I must say. I understand that and I support it to some extent, but at the same time all my career, all my life I’ve been used to some kind of atmosphere. When that changes, it kind of messes up (and) distracts you a bit.”