The Australian open tennis is one of the most challenging of all the Grand Slam tournaments due to the often extreme hot weather that often descends on Melbourne each January when the tournament is played. Being the first Grand Slam Tennis Tournament on the international tennis calendar the tournament attracts most of the big name players on the international circuit regardless of the heat. The temperature can easily reach, and often exceed, 40 degrees Celsius. Management of the Australian Open Tennis tournament have included various ‘heat clauses’ in the tournament rules as well as installing a retractable roof over the main court that can be closed if the heat becomes to extreme or rain threatens play. The main stadium for the Australian Open is Rod Laver Arena, named after the only person, and an Australian, to have twice won all four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments in one year. The Australian Tennis Open is held in January each year at the Melbourne Tennis Stadium. Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena are the two main courts with other matches played on the outer courts. The other international grand slam tennis tournaments are: the French Open played in Paris, Wimbledon in London and the US Open played in New York.

Apart from being an international tennis tournament that is watched all over the world by tennis lovers eagerly, the men and women tennis players participating in this tournament are the highest ranked in the world. The competition is intense and the atmosphere is electrifying most of the time. The tennis week lasts for 2 weeks with the women’s finals on the Saturday of the second week and the men’s final on the Sunday of the second week. Apart from these two, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

Attracting visitors and tennis lovers from all over Australia and from around the world to Melbourne each January, the Australian Tennis Open is the main international tourism event and attraction in Australia during this period. The two weeks of the tennis open is full of entertainment in and around the Melbourne Park complex with roving entertainers, concerts, markets and food all making this one of the great sporting events on the Melbourne international calendar.

Along with tickets for the Australian Open, people staying in Melbourne for the tennis can also buy concert tickets for the premium park shows and enjoy the varied entertainment and attractions that combine with the great tennis to make this a spectacular two weeks of entertainment. Players that competed during 2009 included Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, the Williams sisters, Dina Safina and many leading players on the world tennis tour. For the 2009 Australian Tennis Open most of the main tickets sold out in advance with average prices ranging from $19 and $174.

For the 2010 Australian Tennis Open the main matches will be played at Rod Laver Arena and ticket prices range from $55 up to $290 for the finals. Ticket prices for matches on Hisense arena start at $50. Tickets prices go up as the tournament progresses with quarter finals, semi-finals and the men’s and women’s finals all at premium prices. The Australian Tennis Open 2010 will be planned from January 18 to January 31 at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne Australia. The total seating capacity of Melbourne Park is around 15,000.

Looking to find the best deal on accommodation for the Australian Tennis Open and the best advice on Australian Tennis Open 2010 then visit the Melbourne Accommodation website.