Australian Open organisers are facing a fierce backlash from furious spectators after record-breaking crowds led to chaotic scenes and lengthy queues on the tournament's opening day.
Record Numbers, Record Delays
A staggering 73,235 people crammed into Melbourne Park for the opening session on Sunday, smashing the previous record set in 2019. The unprecedented turnout led to all ground passes being exhausted for the first time ever on Day 1, with total crowds surpassing 100,000 by the end of the night session.
US tennis legend and commentator Jim Courier expressed his shock at the sheer volume of people. "It's crazy – do you know how many people came through the gates?" he said. "This place is just bananas this year."
CEO's Celebration Meets Fan Fury
The situation escalated when Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open tournament director, Craig Tiley, took to social media to celebrate the success. He posted an image of a packed Rod Laver Arena with the caption "Why AO Opening Week Keeps Getting Better," linking to an article on LinkedIn.
This post ignited the anger of fans who had endured waits of up to two hours in sweltering heat to enter the venue. "With all due respect, it's an amazing event. But went to my 8th AO today and by far was the worst fan experience ever," one fan replied directly to Tiley.
Another long-time attendee stated, "Only lasted a couple of hours today. Too crowded, couldn't get a seat, long queues for food... Worst I've experienced in 35 years of going." Reports emerged of people fainting in the heat while waiting, with some missing out on entry entirely by the time they reached the gates.
Profits Versus Fan Experience
Many fans accused the Open's management of prioritising profits and corporate revenue over spectator safety and enjoyment. "There's a difference between the corporate dollar and the fan experience. Not as good as you think," was one typical social media comment.
Another critic added, "Bigger crowds to meet TA's growth and revenue KPIs... resulting in the average punter standing in a queue all day." Tiley had previously told Channel Nine that the focus was on transforming the Grand Slam into a broad entertainment event, saying, "It's about entertainment, music and food, and then tennis."
However, fans countered that this strategy had failed in its execution. "Over 2 hours queuing in extreme heat... no shade, no signage... People fainted. It was unsafe, poorly managed," one spectator detailed.
In response to the widespread criticism, Tiley acknowledged the issues, stating, "There was no question that we had more people coming on the grounds than we even expected." He promised that organisers would learn from the Day 1 chaos and deploy extra resources to ensure a seamless entry for fans throughout the rest of the tournament.
