Australian Open boss Craig Tiley is considering starting the tournament on a Saturday due to the overwhelming demand from fans. The 2025 Australian Open saw record-breaking attendance, with over 1.1 million spectators attending the event. This surge in interest has prompted Tiley to think about extending the tournament to 16 days and starting it on a Saturday to accommodate more main-draw action over three full weekends.
Tiley emphasized that the decision would be made carefully, considering the impact on both players and fans. He noted the significant growth in tennis participation in Australia, with more people playing the sport and attending matches. The early starts and late finishes of the Australian Open have made it a grand slam that never sleeps, similar to the US Open in New York.
Despite some crowd behavior issues, Tiley remains focused on enhancing the fan experience and ensuring that the majority of attendees have a great time. The potential Saturday start aims to capitalize on the insatiable appetite for tennis in Australia and provide fans with more opportunities to enjoy the sport.
The move to a Saturday start would not only benefit fans but also generate more revenue for Tennis Australia and the Victorian government. With the qualifying tournament and exhibition matches already taking place a week before the main event, the Australian Open could become a continuous celebration of tennis.
Tiley’s vision for the Australian Open reflects the growing enthusiasm for tennis in the country and the desire to make the tournament even more accessible and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Jannik Sinner in 2025
Ranked no.1, Sinner played his last match on the 26th of January when he defeated world no.2 Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3 in the final of the Australian Open to win his 20th career title.
Presently, during this year the Italian has a composed 7-0 match record. This year, Sinner won 1 tournament at the Australian Open.
He is also scheduled to play in Rotterdam (ABN AMRO Open) on the 3rd of February and Doha (Qatar ExxonMobil Open) on the 17th of February.