MELBOURNE : The Australian Open will introduce daily limits on its low-cost ground passes for the first time after long queues and overcrowding marred this year’s tournament.
Tennis Australia said on Tuesday it would cap sales of its A$49 ($34) ground passes during the first week of the 2027 main draw, anticipating record demand for the Grand Slam.
“This decision reflects the growing popularity of the AO and will help ensure fans are able to make the most of everything on offer across the precinct,” the governing body said in a statement.
Ground passes allow spectators to move freely between matches on the outside courts at Melbourne Park, excluding the main showcourts, and have long been popular with casual tennis fans.
However, rapidly rising attendances in recent years have led to lengthy queues to enter courts and prompted concerns that overcrowding was diminishing the spectator experience.
A record 1,368,043 fans attended the 2026 Australian Open across its three-week schedule, during which Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles title and Elena Rybakina claimed the women’s championship.
The Australian Open did not specify the number of ground passes that would be available each day.
($1 = 1.4278 Australian dollars)
