Australian Open Press Release, February 2, 2022

World No.1 Ash Barty became the first Australian to win the Australian Open since Chris O’Neil in 1978 and was presented with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup by 14-time Grand Slam champion and Barty’s long-time friend and mentor, Evonne Goolagong Cawley in an emotional ceremony at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.

Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open for the second time and is the first man to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles. The 35-year-old is just the fourth man in the Open Era to capture every major twice. It was also the first time Nadal had come back from two sets down in a major final, and the first at any stage of a Grand Slam since the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2007.

Quad wheelchair tennis player Dylan Alcott, competing in his final tournament before retiring from the sport, was named 2022 Australian of the Year and awarded an Officer of the Order (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List. Alcott received the honour for distinguished service to Paralympic sport, particularly to tennis, as a role model for people with a disability and to the community through a range of organisations.

Maverick wildcards Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis put the brand new 5,000 seat Kia Arena on the map with their entertaining brand of doubles, sweeping through the draw and winning fans to claim their first Grand Slam title.

A total of 346,468 fans attended Australian Open 2022. Prior to the tournament crowds for AO 2022 were capped at 50 percent, increased to 65 percent for the semifinals and again to 80 percent for the finals. The numbers were significantly up on AO 2021 which had a total attendance of 130,374 and was affected by a five-day mid-event lockdown. AO 2020 hosted a record crowd of 812,174 across the 14 days.

This is Australian Open 2022 by the numbers.

AO 2022 champions

• [1] Ash Barty (AUS) defeated [27] Danielle Collins (USA) 6-3 7-6(2) to win her third Grand Slam singles title, the first Aussie in 44 years to win the Australian Open title since Chris O’Neil in 1978. Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE presented Barty with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
• [6] Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated [2] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) in five thrilling sets, 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 to become the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles, and his second AO crown after also reaching the final in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019.  The 1992 and 1993 Australian Open champion Jim Courier presented Nadal with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
• Wildcards Nick Kyrgios (AUS) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) claimed the men’s doubles title, their maiden Grand Slam title, defeating fellow Aussies Matt Ebden (AUS) and Max Purcell (AUS) 7-5 6-4.
• Top seeds Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) and Katerina Siniakova (CZE) defeated Anna Danilina (KAZ) and Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 to win the women’s doubles.
• [5] Ivan Dodig (CRO) and Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) defeated Australian wildcards Jaimee Fourlis (AUS) and Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-3 6-4 in the mixed doubles.
• [2] Sam Schroder (NED) defeated [1] Dylan Alcott (AUS) 7-5 6-0 to claim his second quad wheelchair singles title. The quad wheelchair singles final was played on RLA on Thursday 27 January and is believed to be the biggest-ever crowd for a wheelchair tennis match.
• [1] Shingo Kunieda (JPN) claimed his eleventh Australian Open men’s wheelchair singles title, defeating [2] Alfie Hewett (GBR) 7-5 3-6 6-2.
• [1] Diede de Groot (NED) defeated Aniek Van Koot (NED) 6-1 6-1 to win the women’s wheelchair singles title, her fourth Australian Open trophy. [1] Diede de Groot (NED) and Aniek van Koot (NED), [1] Gordon Reid (GBR) and Alfie Hewett (GBR), [2] Andy Lapthorne (GBR) and David Wagner (USA) won their respective wheelchair doubles titles in the women’s, men’s and quad divisions.
• 16-year-old Petra Marcinko (CRO) defeated Sofia Costulas (BEL) 7-5 6-1 to win the Australian Open Junior Championship girls’ singles title.
• 17-year-old [1] Bruno Kuzuhara (USA) defeated [4] Jakub Mensik (CZE) 7-6(4) 6-7(6) 7-5 to claim the Australian Open Junior Championships boys’ singles title.
• [1] Clervie Ngounoue (USA) and Diana Shnaider (RUS) and [2] Bruno Kuzuhara (USA) and Chak Lam Coleman Wong (HKG) won the junior girls’ and boys’ doubles titles.

AO22 competitors

• A total of 735 players from 73 nations competed at the Australian Open, including qualifying, singles, doubles, junior and wheelchair events.
• The USA had the highest representation, with 77 players, followed by Australia with 71, France with 43, Italy with 38 and Russia with 34.

Player statistics

• Aces

117 – Daniil Medvedev (RUS)

45 – Ash Barty (AUS)

• Fastest serve

228 km/h – Nick Kyrgios (AUS)

197 km/h – Naomi Osaka (JPN)

• Double faults

54 – Maxime Cressy (USA)

56 – Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)

• First serve percentage in

76% – Sabastian Baez (ARG)

82% – Emina Bektas (USA)

• First serve percentage won

86% – Marin Cilic (CRO)

82% – Ash Barty (AUS)

• Second serve percentage won

67% – Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

68% – Zarina Diyas (KAZ)

• First serve return points won

187 – Daniil Medvedev (RUS)

117 – Iga Swiatek (POL)

• Second Serve return points won

136 – Rafael Nadal (ESP)

103 – Danielle Collins (USA)

• Break points won

33 – Rafael Nadal (ESP)

29 – Danielle Collins (USA)

• Break points converted

100% – Daniel Altmaier (ARG)

100% – Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)

Domestic broadcast highlights

• Ash Barty’s Australian Open victory is the highest rating women’s final in OzTAM history, peaking at 4.261m viewers with an average audience of 3.074m.
• The men’s final between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev peaked at 3.136m and was the most watched program on Sunday.
• Kyrgios and Kokkinakis’ men’s doubles final was the highest rating Australian Open men’s doubles final in OzTAM history, with a peak of more than 3 million viewers.
• Nine Network FTA share hit +80% with People 16-39 on Day 13.
• 9Now was the #1 broadcaster on Day 13 with a Live CFTA minutes share of 86% and on Day 14 the men’s final recorded the highest live minutes of the Australian Open ever, and the hours viewed were up 449% YOY.
• The women’s final recorded the highest live BVOD Audience of the Australian Open ever, with 241,000 people tuning in to the stream to watch Barty defeat Collins. This figure is 4.4 times higher than last year’s women’s final and 1.7 times higher than last year’s men’s final.
• The men’s doubles final recorded the highest ever Live BVOD Audience for a doubles match, recording a Live BVOD Audience of 167,000, an increase of 5137% on last year’s men’s doubles final.
• 6.630 million viewers watched day 13 of AO 2022.
• 12.051 million viewers tuned into Nine’s coverage of AO 2022.
• Ash Barty’s semifinal win over Madison Keys peaked at 2.466m viewers nationally on Nine with an average audience of 2.063m, and her quarterfinal match drew more than 1.943m viewers.
• Dylan Alcott’s final match on RLA saw a peak of 1.447m viewers making it the highest watched wheelchair match of all time. Nine delayed their 6pm news bulletin by 45 minutes to broadcast the match.
• Kyrgios’ loss to eventual AO finalist Daniil Medvedev drew a peak viewing audience of 1.628m.
• Nine dominated the free-to-air viewing shares with all key demographics each day of the tournament.

International broadcast

• AO22 was broadcast in 226 territories globally, through 25 broadcast partners.
• All matches on all courts were available live and on-demand to fans in more than 130 territories, including through Nine and Stan in Australia, Sony in India, Discovery in Europe, ESPN in the Americas, beIN Sports in South-East Asia and WOWOW in Japan.
• TA signed new broadcast deals for AO22 which covered 190+ territories, including 10-year deals with Discovery in Europe and ESPN in Latin America and Caribbean, and a five-year deal with beIN Sports in South-East Asia.

Host broadcast

• AO22 marks the 75th broadcast event produced and delivered by Tennis Australia’s in-house team.
• 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.
• More than 150 cameras were used throughout the venue and surrounds.
• Coverage of every court, every match, every draw.
• Commentary across an increased total of six courts this year including RLA, MCA, JCA, Kia Arena, 1573 Arena and Court 3 with talent including Mark Philippoussis, Mark Petchey, Laura Robson, Chanda Rubin, John Fitzgerald, Colin Fleming, Brad Stine, Jill Craybus and Wally Masur.
• Expanded suite of graphics including scoring, integration, augmented reality and GCam on the court surface plus specially designed LED and touchscreen graphics.
• 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.
• Spidercam and NetCams featured on RLA, alongside a host of other specialty cameras across the venue.
• FlyCam (collaboration between Nine and TA) flew between RLA and JCA showing off GSO, RLA Terrace, KIA Arena and some beautiful city views.
• 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.

New broadcast facilities

• Brand new specifically designed 2,862m2 temporary broadcast building to support the technical delivery of the TA host broadcast, unilateral broadcasters, Hawkeye and LED control rooms.
• Total freight including air and sea was 160,000kg.
• 24 EVS machines with 12 channels providing a total Input/Output capacity of 288 channels.
• Six large audio control rooms mixing signals for 16 TV courts.

AO Media Hub

• The AO Media Hub was a one stop shop for accredited media and broadcasters to cover the event from anywhere in the world.
• The online platform provided access to media conferences as well as match statistics, colour vision and photos.
• A total of 1192 media conferences were held during the tournament including main interview room, 1-1 interviews and remote broadcast interviews.
• 973 journalists and photographers from 44 nations reported on AO 2022.
• 206 journalists covered the event onsite, including 70 international media.
• 18 broadcasters were onsite with a further 29 accessing coverage remotely.
• 440 broadcast personnel were onsite and approximately 1000 in total accredited, including those working on the event remotely.

AO YouTube – highest growth ever

• 124.2 million views on YouTube (as at Jan 28)
• 111.7 thousand new subscribers
• 53.3 million unique viewers
• 3.1 million hours watched, adding up to more than 3.5 centuries!

AO social media

• 5,227 posts on AO social media channels
• 312M video views across social platforms
• Twice as many video views for Instagram and Facebook compared to AO21
• Nightly RLA warm-ups live-streamed on Twitter for the first time
• 57M videos viewed on TikTok

In-stadium production

• The AO Sonic Light and Sound show staged on RLA prior to every night session featured more than 200 moving lights installed around the arena and 360-degree video elements across the digital walls. The soundtrack was the AO Sonic soundscape.
• In-stadium production was showcased on 4,723 LED Panels across the precinct, totalling 1823m2.
• The LEDs featured 343 bespoke digital wall content pieces.

AO Player Content Concierge service

• The AO Player Content Concierge team provided more than 10,000 pieces of content including images and video directly to 115 players during the tournament.
• The playing group shared more than 350 posts featuring content provided by AO Player Content Concierge.

Tournament Operations

• More than 360 drivers transported players and officials in 130 Kia cars during the tournament, including the new EV6 all-electric car.
• 17,772 accreditations were issued with more than 179,190 total accreditation scans.
• More than 27,200 transport trips booked through the new AO Transport app with more than 360,000km accumulated on the road.
• Chief Umpire Cheryl Jenkins led the AO Officials team of 210 chair umpires, which included 136 Australians and 74 internationals from 36 nations.

• 380 ballkids aged between 12 and 15 years of age.
• Victorians Serena Aponso and Anthony Emelianov were named top ballkids of AO 2022. Aponso also helped present the women’s singles trophy to Ash Barty.
• New First Nations Ballkid Program introduced.
• More than 7,300 racquets were restrung using 80,300m of string.
• 4,400 cases of water were used, comprising 105,600 bottles which went through a recycling program.
• 84,500 AO22 Dunlop balls were in play, with used tennis balls recycled back into tennis clubs and community programs. The plastic tubes were also sent to recycling programs.
• 4,900 bags of player and coach laundry.
• More than 60,000 player towels used.
• The Ralph Lauren navy gym towel was the highest selling item in the AO Shop.
• Independent not-for-profit organisation Jobsbank returned for a third year, placing 46 vulnerable jobseekers in casual and long-term roles with the Australian Open.
• 14 people with Down syndrome were employed in roles within TA and the AO as part of a new TA partnership with charity Impact 21.

Partners

• Celebrating 21 years of partnership with the AO, Kia ambassadors Rafael Nadal and Dylan Alcott officially handed over the Kia car fleet at the new Kia Arena.
• Emirates, the AO’s Official Airline for the eighth consecutive year, celebrated 25 years of flying to Australia with the launch of its all-new Emirates Moments Cam on the AO arena screens.
• The AO Ballpark presented by Emirates returned with the $5 kids ground pass. This included access to the live stage featuring performances from popular characters such as Bluey, Peppa Pig and Spiderman, as well as the 73-metre Emirates Zipline and ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Fan Zone.

• Piper-Heidsieck extended its partnership and have been the Official Champagne for the Australian Open since 2019. The Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Bar featured on Rod Laver Arena Terrace.
• Marriott Bonvoy signed a multi-year partnership as Official Partner Hotel of the Australian Open and launched its relationship with ambassador Ash Barty.
• Uber expanded its existing partnership beyond the Official Online Food Delivery App and Official Ridesharing Partner into new categories including the Official Online Grocery Delivery App and the Official Online Alcohol Delivery App of the tournament. Nick Kyrgios, Ash Barty and Todd Woodbridge all featured in the AO TVC.

• Gordon’s Gin served up perfect summer sips at multiple locations across Melbourne Park in a new partnership. The world’s number one selling gin was a main feature across two key locations including Grand Slam Oval and Garden Square as well as satellite bars at Court 3 and the Eastern Plaza.
• Global hygiene brand Initial, the AO’s Official Hygiene Partner extended its association with the tournament for a second year.

• Tennis Australia teamed up with a game-changing Australian enviro-tech startup Samsara to reduce plastic bottle waste at the tournament.

Women and Girls

• Australian Open celebrated 100 years since women first competed in the Australasian Championships, when inaugural winner Maude Margaret Molesworth won in 1922.
• The world’s best female athletes shone in prime time for the first time with both women’s semifinal matches featuring on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night. The schedule change came 12 years after the AO women’s final was moved to Saturday night in 2009, and 100 years after women were first included in the tournament.
• Aussie trailblazer Molesworth and 1930’s champion Joan Hartigan were both inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. Immortalised in bronze, the statues join the other Australian tennis legends in Garden Square at Melbourne Park.
• 17 women champions from the past century were featured in the AO Art Walk, by digital artist Jessica Coppet
• More than 30 women from regional Victoria came to the Australian Open to celebrate the launch of Tennis Australia’s Women Leaders in Tennis Program.
• Inaugural winner Maude Margaret Molesworth was featured on the ANZ Commemorative Coin, which was tossed by the ANZ Coin Crew before each match.
• Eight women from Sale, Victoria travelled to the Australian Open to showcase Cardio Tennis, with ages ranging from 18 years old to 74 years old.
• 80 ANZ Tennis Hot Shots girls came to participate in Kids on Court with eight women coaches, as part of special Women and Girls activations on women’s semifinals day, including a hit with Nicole Pratt and a meet and greet with Casey Dellacqua.
• An all-girl ballkid squad was rostered on for the women’s semifinals and final.
• 35 women coaches attended the Coach Connect Networking session at the tournament and attend the women’s semifinals.

Music and entertainment

• Australian singer songwriter Frances Madden performed the world premiere of She Will Rise at Rod Laver Arena before the women’s singles final
• Australian cast of the Broadway Musical Jagged Little Pill featuring Natalie Bassingthwaighte performed before the men’s singles final.
• Acclaimed Australian performer Kate Ceberano sang This Girl is on Fire before women’s semifinal night on RLA.
• Phantom of the Opera’s Josh Piterman performed Music of the Night before the second men’s semifinal.
• X Factor winner Isaiah Firebrace performed Together Again to open the first night session on Rod Laver Arena.
• Performer Baker Boy (Danzal James Baker OAM) performed on RLA to mark First Nations Day.
• Jack Vidgen performed of You Will Be Found from the Tony and Olivier Award winning musical Dear Evan Hansen on AO Pride Day.
• The Australian National Anthem was performed by Rob Mills and Jemma Rix, star of Frozen the Musical.
• International DJs including Grammy nominated and ARIA award winning Cut Copy, CC:DISCO! and Bradley Zero played at AO Beach House. Touch Sensitive, KLP and Mahalia Barnes Trio featured on Grand Slam Oval.

Behind the Line voices included

• Hollywood superstar and self-described ‘tennis tragic’ Rebel Wilson.
• Inspirational tennis coach Megan Henry, who travels to far-flung regions across rural Western Australia to encourage women and girls to get involved in tennis.
• Kyah Jones, proud Aboriginal woman from the Yuin Nation on the South Coast of NSW, who creates opportunities for young Indigenous children across Australia through her work with the Evonne Goolagong Foundation.   
• Glam Slam Tournament Director Rowen D’Souza, a champion of diversity and inclusion and organiser of the world’s only LGBTIQ+ tournament staged at a Grand Slam event.
• Victorian volunteer Liz Tektonopoulos, a driving force in redeveloping the Greenvale Tennis Club and providing more tennis opportunities to the local community.
• Newcombe Medal, Australian Tennis Awards Tennis Senior of the Year Glen Busby, ranked No.1 in the 60+ and 65+ categories, who has served as captain on eight of the 15 occasions he has represented Australia.
• Tennis coach Domenic Marafiote, who works tirelessly to attract new members and provide social and competitive playing opportunities to South Australia’s East Torrens Kensington Tennis Club.
• Owner and Executive Chef of Mabu, Nornie Bero, whose Indigenous produce and flavours were showcased at the AO this year. Originally from Mer Island in the Torres Strait, Bero has pioneered the use of First Nations ingredients for 20 years.

Australian tennis legends, sporting figures and celebrities

• Legends including Rod Laver AC MBE, Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE, Neale Fraser AO MBE, Frank Sedgman AO, Judy Dalton AM, Lesley (Turner) Bowrey AM, Mark Edmondson and Chris O’Neil all attended the AO.
• Cathy Freeman OAM, Ian Thorpe AM, Russell Crowe, Eric Bana, Bruna Papandrea, Britney Theriot, Teresa Palmer, Victoria Lee, Bella Heathcote, Mia Wasikowska, Rachel Griffiths, Emma McKeon AM, Ariarne Titmus OAM, Katherine Langford, Pia (Miller) Whitesell, Eliza Scanlan, Dannii Minogue, Daniel Askill, Karl Stefanovic, Cate Campbell, Allison Langdon, Leila McKinnon, Alicia Loxley, Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Peter Bol, Joseph Deng, Courtney Act, Fi Box, Brendan Fevola, Olympia Valance, Chris and Rebecca Judd, Moana Hope, Joel Creasey, Danielle Laidley, Tom Hawkins, Steve Waugh, Kate Waterhouse, Zac and Jordan Stenmark, Montana Cox, Daniel MacPherson, Deborah Knight, Dee Dunleavy, Mary Coustas, Nick and Rozalia Russian, Joey and Jane Scandizzo, David and Candice Warner, Sarah Albo, Sophie Cachia, Josh Dunkley, Adam Treloar, Tayla Damir, Vince Colosimo, Darren McMullen, Art Simone, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Maria Thattil also attended.

Bruna Papandrea and Alison Battison starred at AO Inspirational Series

• Award-winning Australian film and television producer Bruna Papandrea headlined the seventh annual AO Inspirational Series.
• Alison Battisson who facilitated the rescue of the Afghanistan female soccer team from Kabul in 2021 when the Taliban took over, was also guest speaker at the AO Inspirational Series.
• Three of the soccer players rescued attended the event. Their names and pictures cannot be published due to safety and security reasons.

Community tennis at AO

• More than 40,000 kids across Australia participated in AO Holiday Programs delivered by 275 coaches across 450 venues during the month of January.
• 29,342 patrons experienced the AO Ballpark and ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Activation Zone.
• More than 1,300 ANZ Tennis Hot Shots kids 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.
• More than 170 ANZ Tennis Hot Shots kids were part of the ANZ Coin Toss Crew to toss the coin.
• More than 100 Cardio Tennis participants were on Show Court 3 for pre match sessions.
• 5,600+ patrons had a go on the AO Padel Court on Grand Slam Oval.
• The Padel court showcased 24 Padel exhibition matches with professional athletes and high-profile personalities including former Hawthorn Football player Brad Sewell, cricketing royalty Michael Vaughan and Michael Hussey and Melbourne City Football Club players Scott Jamieson, Jamie Maclaren and Thomas Sorenson.
• 4,000 patrons signed up to play Beach Tennis on the Bondi Sands Beach Court at AO Beach Club.
• 630 Tennis Coaches from 31 countries participated in the virtual Grand Slam Coaches Conference, which featured 49 world class presenters from 13 countries.
• The Grand Slam Coaches Conference featured 38 on-demand presentations and 23 Live Q&A sessions.
• 85 Tennis Coaches registered for the Victoria Coach Development Workshop.

10,000 hours of free court hire to celebrate Australian Open success

• Tennis courts across the country have thrown open their gates and will offer 10,000 hours of free court hire during the month of February in celebration of the spectacular Aussie success stories at the Australian Open this year.
• The free hour of court hire is available to all Australians with one booking per person with a booking fee cap of $20. Visit www.play.tennis.com.au/court-hire to redeem the free court hire. Enter code FREECOURT at checkout. The offer is valid from now until 28 February.

Tennis participation

• 1.529 million Australians played tennis in the 12 months ending June 2021 according to the latest AusPlay data.
• The fastest growing sport across all ages, tennis out-performed 15 other activities and sports, including AFL, basketball and soccer, with a 37 per cent increase in adult participation alongside a 29 percent increase in children picking up a racquet.
• Adult participation grew 37 per cent from 893,300 to 1.2278 million over the 12 months.
• Kids participation grew 29 per cent from 234,100 to 301,200 over the same time.
• A total of 3655 schools deliver tennis as part of their health and physical education curriculum.
• Casual court hire through the Book a Court system saw more than 450,000 bookings, with 43,000 new or returning players in the 12 months leading ending September 2021.
• Clubs using ClubSpark experienced a 49 per cent increase in total bookings, with court hire accounting for more than 520,000 bookings over the same period.
• More than 75% of the Australian population now have access to online court bookings through play.tennis.com.au.

AO Pride Day

• The first AO Pride Day took over the second Monday of the tournament.
• Casey Dellacqua hosted the Ralph Lauren AO Pride Breakfast with guests and panellists including Sheena Watt MP, Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, Dr Ryan Storr and Glam Slam Tournament Director Rowen D’Souza in attendance.
• Glam Stations, roaming tattoo stations, roving drag queens and rainbow roller skaters featured across the precinct.
• Rod Laver Arena was lit up in rainbow colours at night, a powerful sign of the Australian Open and Tennis Australia’s support for the LGBTQ+ community and inclusion and diversity.
• AO Pride Day was supported by players including Thanasi Kokkinakis, Ash Barty, Gael Monfils, Simona Halep, Madison Keys, Max Purcell, Alize Cornet and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

AO Glam Slam presented by Ralph Lauren

• The AO Glam Slam was presented by partner Ralph Lauren.
• More than 140 LGBTQ+ players from around Australia competed in the AO Glam Slam presented by Ralph Lauren.
• The Glam Slam Final was held at the new Kia Arena, with the Melbourne sign transformed with rainbow colours.
• Courtney Act hosted the day which included entertainment from Electric Fields and YoMafia!

Food and Hospitality

• Melbourne’s Shane Delia (Maha), Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino), Ben Shewry (Attica) and Nornie Bero (Mabu Mabu/Big Esso) were some of the gastronomic geniuses who served up sensational food during the tournament.
• The brand-new dining precinct, set at the heart of Melbourne Park and overlooking Garden Square, hosted two glamorous new restaurants including Rockpool Bar & Grill collaboration with Burnt Ends, ranked No.34 in the World’s Best Restaurants. Famed Singapore-based Australian chef Dave Pynt contributed to the menu.
• Penfolds Restaurant offered a four-course menu paired with specially curated Penfolds wines, including an indulgent glass of Grange.
• A more casual two-course menu was on offer at the Penfolds Bistro and the stunning Max’s Rose Bar situated on the terrace, a rose-coloured vision in all shades of pink.
• For the first time at the AO guests could book a premium micro restaurant experience and not miss a minute of the tennis action in the Rod Laver Arena Superbox while enjoying Middle Eastern dishes from Shane Delia’s renowned restaurant Maha.
• Sweeping city views and a focus on sustainability were the hallmarks of the greenhouse-inspired Atrium Eatery and Bar by Ben Shewry, located on the River Terrace. The waterwall façade and lush plantings on the terrace set the scene for signature cocktails shaken and stirred by famed mixologist Michael Madrusan (The Everleigh) featuring native botanicals, and a menu of sustainably sourced ingredients for dishes.
• Glasshouse Dining with Guy Grossi saw the Melbourne master of Italian cuisine present a classic three-course menu of his signature dishes.
• Paying homage to the iconic city laneways on Grand Slam Oval, fans feasted on fare such as burgers from Chancery Lane and Bar Margeaux, the finest Italian from Grossi Florentino, Tipo 00 and Marameo, hawker-style street food from Longrain, Lucy Liu and Ginger Boy, Asian delicacies from Oriental Tea House and Robata, to the Mediterranean delights of Bar Lourinha and Stalactites.
• First Nations culture and cuisine from Mabu Mabu/Big Esso chef Nornie Bero took centre stage in Garden Square, alongside contemporary Japanese Mr Miyagi.
• Rounding out this all-star line-up was local icon Pipi’s Kiosk, which served up gourmet fish and chips at the new AO Beach House, where patrons could sip their own Piper Heidsieck Champagne in a chic cabana, meet up with friends at the Grainshaker Australian Vodka Bar, or stick to your New Year’s fitness resolutions at the AO’s first dedicated health & wellness pop up.
• More than 15,000 Gradi pizzas were consumed on Grand Slam Oval.
• More than 10,000kg of chips were sold between City Italia and Europa Lane.
• 35,000 dumplings from David’s and Oriental Tea House were eaten.
• More than two tonnes of Stalactites spit-roasted chicken were served in souvlakis.
• 2000 serves of Marameo’s fusilli cacio e pepe was used at City Italia.
• More than 30,000 glasses of Piper-Heidsieck champagne were poured.
• Approx. 4,500 glasses of Penfolds Grange were served.
• More than 80,000 Peroni’s served.
• More than 15,000 guests dined at a restaurant, consuming approximately 43,000 courses (dishes).
• More than 6,000 bowls of pasta was served in the player restaurant.
• More than 11,000 build your own salads were served up to players and their teams.
• More than 40,000 serves of hot chips consumed.
• More than 10,000 loaded flatbreads were served.
• More than 1,700 staff members worked with Delaware North during the tournament.

AO Beach House

• The best of bayside Melbourne was on offer at the first-ever AO Beach House, which transformed the entire northern side of Melbourne Park, bringing a laidback seaside holiday vibe to life within a stunning new precinct.
• A hybrid of tennis and beach volleyball, Beach Tennis was on offer for fans to give it a go and put their skills to the test, along with the Bondi Sands Beach Court.

AO Inclusion and Diversity

• Senior Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy joined Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp and tennis legend Jim Courier to officially welcome fans to the Australian Open on day one.
• The inaugural AO First Nations Day was held on Wednesday 19 January and was launched by a Koorie Heritage Cultural Walk led by Rob Hyatt.
• Yolngu man, musician and performer Baker Boy (Danzal James Baker OAM) performed before the night session at Rod Laver Arena.
• Former Indigenous tennis player Ian Goolagong joined Aunty Kellie Hunter to lead Kids on Court for Indigenous participants.
• Indigenous artist Stan Yarramunua and Ky-ya Ward created art pieces on site at Court 3 during the tournament.
• The AO Inclusion Championships – AO PWII (Players with an Intellectual Impairment) and AO DHOH (Deaf and Hard of Hearing) were held for the first time and supported by team leaders and Australian tennis legends Pat Rafter, Alicia Molik and Wally Masur.

Art across Melbourne Park precinct

• The AO Art Walk celebrated 100 years since women were included in the Australasian Championships and featured portraits of 17 stand-out champions by artist Jessica Coppet.
• Proud Gubbi Gubbi artist, 21-year-old Maggie Jean Douglas, crafted two artworks ‘Back Together’ and ‘Respect to Country,’ depicting togetherness, community, and the sights and sensations associated with Melbourne in January and February – the season known as Biderap by the Wurundjeri people.
• Maggie Jean’s illustrations recognised the significant role tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley and world No.1 Ash Barty play in the AO’s history.
• Created in consultation with Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy, Douglas’ artworks were displayed around Melbourne Park and featured in this year’s AO merchandise range, with proceeds going to Indigenous tennis initiatives through the Australian Tennis Foundation.

• GSO was transformed into a vast outdoor gallery featuring murals of Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott by Paink, laneway-inspired artworks by Meggs (David Hooke) and 23^rd Key, and a tribute wall to the late Michael Gudinski recognising the instrumental role he played in nurturing the AO’s vibrant music scene.
• Behind the scenes, the AO collaborated with local artists, florists and creatives on design installations in player areas across the site.
• A Wominjeka Naarm (Welcome to Melbourne) installation, inspired by Indigenous craft and weaving and brought to life by Boom Studios in consultation with Aunty Joy Murphy, greeted players on arrival to Melbourne Park.
• Elsewhere players enjoyed floral installations by Yarta Yarta artist Shahn Stewart, Collingwood’s xxflos and Rose Studios, and hand-painted, 20^th Century-style signage by Mitch R Signs throughout the player facilities.

AO Legends

• The Australian Open Legends event featured Pat Rafter, Mark Philippoussis, Sam Groth, Nicole Bradtke, Rennae Stubbs, Wayne Ferreira, Barbara Schett and Cara Black.

Lead in to AO22

• A record 17 tournaments including the Australian Open were held during the 2022 Australian summer.
• 185,826 people attended tennis events in the lead-in to AO22.
• More than 15 million Aussies tuned into Channel Nine to watch lead-in events (OzTam 5 City Metro data).
• 157 Aussies took part in AO lead-in events: ATP Cup, Adelaide International 1 & 2, Melbourne Summer Set 1, 2 & 3, Sydney Tennis Classic, Bendigo International, Traralgon International, Victorian Wheelchair Open, Melbourne Wheelchair Open and ITF Juniors Traralgon.
• Ash Barty claimed the Adelaide International 1 singles title as well as the doubles title with Storm Sanders.
• Thanasi Kokkinakis won his maiden ATP title in front of a home crowd at Adelaide International 2.
• John Peers took home the Sydney Tennis Classic doubles with partner Filip Polasek.
• Dylan Alcott claimed the Victorian Wheelchair Open quad singles crown and teamed up with Heath Davidson to win the doubles.

Aussies at AO22

• Seventy-one Aussies competed at Australian Open 2022 across all divisions.
• Eight Aussies made the final round of the tournament: Dylan Alcott, Ashleigh Barty, Matthew Ebden, Jaimee Fourlis, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jason Kubler, Nick Kyrgios and Max Purcell.
• Six more Aussies made the semifinals including Heath Davidson, Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz, John Peers, Taylah Preston, Storm Sanders and Ben Weekes.

AO on the Road

• The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup travelled more than 3,400 kilometres across regional Victoria throughout November, December and January.
• The trophies visited tennis clubs and iconic locations across six Victorian regions including the Great Ocean Road, Goldfields, Grampians, The Murray, the Yarra Valley before returning to Melbourne ahead of AO22.
• Former tennis players Ian Goolagong, John Fitzgerald and Nicole Bradtke took part in the tour.
• Places visited included Echuca, Koondrook, Murrabit, Swan Hill, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Ballarat, Koroit, Port Fairy, Great Ocean Road, Warrnambool, Lorne, Torquay, Horsham, Murtoa and Melbourne CBD.
• The tour was part of an ongoing initiative to provide uplift and sense of community spirit as the State reopened after the pandemic.

AO x NFT Collection

• The AO teamed up with NFT and Digital Collectible platform Sweet.io to release the AO Decades Collection, featuring six commemorative NFT collections celebrating the iconic decades of the AO.
• More than 40 pieces were available to own with fans and collectors having a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of AO history.

AO Fortnite Summer Smash

• In the AO Fortnite Summer Smash 2022 Australia’s top competitive Fortnite players competed for $100,000 (USD) in the Duos Invitational. The event was won by Jace and Basil.
• The competition was hosted online with Vandie, AussieAntics and Coach Timmy (PWR Timmy) calling the action live from Melbourne Park ahead of the men’s singles final. Fans tuned in via Australian Open Twitch and YouTube.
• To celebrate the event, the tournament collaborated with Epic Games to launch an AO Island in Fortnite – the island replicated the AO Beach House, an area for a photo opportunity with the AO trophies and giant screens which showcase previous AO Highlights.