The Australian Open has been receiving criticism over its “confusing advertising” for the event after “frustrated fans showed up to the first week of the tournament amid record crowds expecting to watch the first week of the main draw,” according to Brielle Burns of NEWS.com.au. The tournament has been marketed as the start of “Opening Week,” and Monday saw 29,261 fans attend Melbourne Park for qualifying matches, nearly quadrupling last year’s record of 7,543. The second and third days “drew even stronger crowds” with 34,209 and 36,973 in attendance on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, beating crowd numbers for the same time last year. However, many fans voiced their “frustration over this year’s marketing campaign” and accused the organizers of “intentionally confusing guests.” Until 2024, qualifying matches were free to attend. Fans can now “purchase ground passes for $20” (NEWS.com.au, 1/16).
CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM: REUTERS’ Shrivathsa Sridhar notes the Australian Open will offer $74.73M in prize money this year. While “players welcomed the increase,” top names such as Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka said that the “push for a bigger payout must continue across the Grand Slams.” Gauff said that the Australian Open’s increase was a “positive step but more could be done considering the tournament’s revenue,” which the Australian Financial Review reported was $467.33M last year. Gauff: “The percentage, of revenue comparison, is still not where we would like it. There’s still further conversations that have to be had, not just with the Australian Open but with all Grand Slams. We have player representatives that have been working hard to do that a lot for us because we can’t do it, be in person as often.” Sabalenka “echoed Gauff’s view” but said that “at least the Grand Slams were listening to the players” (REUTERS, 1/16).