Cash-strapped Tennis Australia will let followers into observe matches that includes the world’s greatest gamers at Rod Laver Arena as a part of a brand new paid ticketing scheme for Australian Open qualifying occasions.
After emptying its money reserves of $80 million and taking out a $40 million mortgage to stage the COVID-ravaged 2021 Australian Open, TA remains to be desperately attempting to replenish its coffers.
Tournament director Craig Tiley conceded to AAP that the 2022 Open nonetheless ran within the purple regardless of Ash Barty icing the massively profitable version by breaking a 44-year dwelling singles title drought, after Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis gained the boys’s doubles.
Tuesday’s ticketing revelation shapes as a vital factor of Tiley’s makes an attempt to remodel the fortnight-long grand slam right into a “three-week extravaganza”.
The qualifiers, which begin on January 9, have historically been free entry, however this yr grownup tickets price $10 and a toddler’s entry is $5.
“It’s a great price for fans to come in, watch great qualifying matches, but we’ve also got the top players on organised practice sessions playing practice matches, which they have agreed to do for 75-minute segments from three o’clock in the afternoon to about eight o’clock in the evening,” Tiley advised reporters on Tuesday.
“On Rod Laver (Arena), you’ll have a chance to sit in the stadium and watch the best players play.
“So the coaching, the ‘good observe’ we’re calling it, is a 75-minute section the place they will have ball children, they will have umpires, they will have followers that may come (from the) qualifying, so you might truly watch a match.
“They’ll play against Novak (Djokovic), they’ll play against Rafa (Nadal) and play a set against Rafa or whoever.
“So we will certainly see Novak doing it and we’ll see Rafa doing and we’ll see Coco (Gauff), we’ll see Alex de Minaur, we’ll see all of the gamers.”
Tiley mentioned he anticipated to draw “a number of thousand” fans per day across the qualifying week.
The ticketing revelation comes a week after Tiley claimed the Australian Open – branded as the “grand slam of Asia Pacific” – was under long-term threat from China.
“The most necessary factor is it isn’t a lot concerning the Australian Open being pinched – we’re right here till 2046, we’re not going wherever, and I feel even past that,” Tiley mentioned.
“But it is extra about what else might be achieved on this time slot? January is a really coveted interval within the sporting calendar for a lot of, as a result of there’s not a lot globally.
“So does a high net worth or a government go and invest in a major event themselves that they just put on and offer ridiculous prize money and then the players are torn on what their options are?
“We’re at all times going to be searching for that, however to make it possible for by no means occurs we simply be certain that we run an awesome three-week extravaganza of tennis that the remainder of the world desires to take part in and be a part of.
“We’ve got over 120 years of history, which helps us as well.”
Meanwhile, Tiley mentioned he wasn’t involved that new COVID-19 testing necessities for guests from China would have an effect on attendance at Melbourne Park, conceding TA had anticipated decrease numbers from the area regardless.
He mentioned gamers from China have already arrived in Australia, and any visitors will observe entry necessities.
