Carlos Alcaraz
Imagine you’re at home watching TV, slumped on the sofa, the Australian Open on your screen. Carlos Alcaraz is making a case for tennis immortality, while Novak Djokovic consolidates his own legacy. You crack open a can of frosty beer. What could be better than this?
Believe it or not, there’s somewhere else that offers an even better experience.
At Court No. 6 of the famed Melbourne Park, where this year’s first Grand Slam is currently being played, it’s a whole different vibe. Music blares, alcoholic drinks flow, and the crowd in the rooftop stands is allowed to have fun. That’s why it’s called the “party court.”
For the second year in a row, Australian Open organizers have tried to shake up the traditional image of tennis by dedicating one court—out of the 33-plus courts in the complex—to a more animated, rowdy crowd. This is something unheard of in the traditionally staid world of tennis. But innovation has been key in attracting a younger generation to the sport.
The idea isn’t entirely new. The defunct International Premier Tennis League tried a similar concept by bringing together the biggest names in tennis to play as a team in various cities around the world. Manila hosted the event twice, with stars like Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova, in a roadshow that gave fans a far more relaxed, party-like atmosphere.
On Thursday evening, Germany’s Eva Lys and France’s Varvara Gracheva experienced firsthand the unique environment on Court 6 during their third-round match, with $290,000 at stake.
The night before, British player Jacob Fearnley faced a raucous crowd on Court 6.
The noise level was so high that it forced the match between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on neighboring Court 8 to be suspended after just seven games. The match was quickly moved to Court 7 to reduce the distraction.
Less than 24 hours later, Lys emerged victorious, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. The German player was quoted saying, “I was always telling myself in the third set: ‘Listen, you could have been home by now, but you’re on court, so try enjoying it and try making the best out of it.’”
While the other Grand Slams have yet to follow this lead, sports like golf are already loosening up their formality, so it’s only a matter of time before more events like this come to fruition.