AusLeisure

With last night seeing Roger Federer winning his 20th Grand Slam title in the mens’ singles, the 2018 Australian Open has come to a close, achieving a record overall tournament attendance of 743,667.

On Saturday, Caroline Wozniacki had secured her maiden Grand Slam crown in the ladies’ singles, culminating two weeks of tennis action in which a total of 745 players from 72 nations competed across all events, including juniors, qualifying, wheelies and legends.

The record crowd numbers saw the tournament exceed its previous attendance record of 728,763 in 2017 and, for the second time in the tournament’s history, attendance in the first week surpassed 500,000 fans with 505,443.

Saturday on the middle weekend of the tournament was the busiest of any day/night in the event’s history, with 87,438 fans on site at Melbourne Park

The event also saw the third edition of the Australian Open Inspirational Series as part of women’s semi finals day. The theme for this special symposium was Empowering Leaders and focused on how to be an agent for change.

Evonne Goolagong-Cawley was presented with her Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) in a special ceremony by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the Order of Australia.

Within the main Melbourne Park venues, 750 metre² of digital LED screens were used – Rod Laver Arena (300 metre²), Margaret Court Arena (250 metre²) and Hisense Arena (200 metre²).

The event also the signing of one of the biggest partnerships in Australian sporting history with Tennis Australia agreeing a landmark five-year extension with Major sponsor Kia Motors.

Sunday’s mens’ singles final had once again seen the Australian Open’s heat policy implemented with the roof of the Rod Laver Arena closed. 

Image: Roger Federer with the Australian Open mens’ singles trophy. Courtesy of Facebook/Australian Open

27th January 2018 - INDUSTRY FIGURES RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS 

23rd January 2018 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN FANS TURNED AWAY AFTER BUYING RESALE TICKETS

18th January 2018 - MELBOURNE PARK VENUES MUST BE DESIGNED TO COPE WITH AUSTRALIAN OPEN HEAT 

8th January 2018 - REVAMPED MELBOURNE PARK READY FOR 2018 AUSTRALIAN OPEN 

7th December 2017 - HISENSE ARENA TO HOST AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE COMPETITION ON THE SAME DAY 

10th November 2017 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN NAMED BEST INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT AT 2017 SPIA ASIA AWARDS

31st May 2017 - CALLS FOR RENAMING OF MARGARET COURT ARENA AFTER GRAND SLAM WINNER’S COMMENTS ON GAYS

23rd April 2017 - STAGE THREE MELBOURNE PARK REDEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE NEW 5000-SEAT TENNIS ARENA 

30th January 2017 - 2017 AUSTRALIAN OPEN BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORDS 

20th January 2014 - RESEARCH REVIEW SUGGESTS BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS OF INJURY IN JUNIOR SPORT 

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