Tennis Australia has revealed that the 2022 Australian Open has generated its highest ever broadcast audience and one of its strongest ever commercial results.
Ash Barty’s win in the women’s singles final reached a peak national audience of 4.261 million viewers with an average of 3.074 million, while Rafa Nadal’s marathon men’s final peaked at 3.136 million viewers.
The all Australian men’s doubles final set a new Australian Open television record for a doubles match, peaking at more than 3 million viewers while Dylan Alcott’s wheelchair tennis final was the most-watched wheelchair tennis match in history with 1.4 million viewers.
Despite the COVID-19 restrictions on crowds, 346,468 fans attended the tournament over its 14 days - a significant rise on the 2021 edition which had a total attendance of 130,374. Prior to the tournament crowds for AO 2022 were capped at 50%, increased to 65% for the semi finals and again to 80% for the finals.
On court, a total of 735 players from 73 nations competed at the Australian Open, including qualifying, singles, doubles, junior and wheelchair events.
The success of Barty and Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the men’s doubles was an unprecedented domestic success in recent times was widely acclaimed and saw the tournament end on a high, moving away from pre-Australian Open controversy surrounding Noval Djokovic.
Tennis Australia’s end of tournament wrap-up advised that the Australian Open was broadcast in 226 territories globally, through 25 broadcast partners with all matches on all courts available live and on-demand to fans in more than 130 territories.
Up to 21 courts were covered with live cameras, including 16 match courts and five practice courts, along with extensive coverage behind and scenes, around the grounds and beauty shots of Melbourne Park and the city skyline while more than 150 cameras were used throughout the venue and surrounds.
Tournament Technology
Innovation saw an expanded suite of graphics including scoring, integration, augmented reality and GCam on the court surface plus specially designed LED and touchscreen graphics made available while GIG (Game Insight Group) returned, introducing physical battles at the end of every set and every match.
Infosys stats flash were used to highlight tournament and player records and pressure points while Spidercam and NetCams featured on the Rod Laver Arena, alongside a host of other specialty cameras across the venue.
Extra cameras provided even more behind the scenes coverage, taking fans into the player gyms and through the full player arrival and post-match journey.
Brand new specifically designed 2,862m2 temporary broadcast building to support the technical delivery of the Tennis Australia host broadcast, unilateral broadcasters, Hawkeye and LED control rooms.
The Australian Open Sonic Light and Sound show staged on the Rod Laver Arena prior to every night session featured more than 200 moving lights installed around the arena and 360-degree video elements across the digital walls.
Community Outreach
More than 40,000 children across Australia participated in Australian Open Holiday Programs delivered by 275 coaches across 450 venues during the month of January.
On site, 29,342 patrons experienced the Australian Open Ballpark and ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Activation Zone while more than 1,300 ANZ Tennis Hot Shots participants hit the courts of Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena, Show Court 3, 1573 and courts 16 and 17 for pre match Kids on Court opportunities.
In addition, more than 100 Cardio Tennis participants were on Show Court 3 for pre match sessions and the Padel Court showcased 24 padel exhibition matches with professional athletes and local personalities.
Ash Barty’s ‘marketability'
Individually, Barty has been identified as Australia’s “most marketable” sports star after her Australian Open win, and has been predicted as being set to overtake Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman as the most marketable Australian.
Images: Ash Abery celebrates her women’s singles tirumph at the 2022 Australian Open (top), Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate their men’s doubles win (middle) and the tournament's NFT balls (below). All images credit of Tennis Australia.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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