Australian Open organizers faced backlash on the opening day of the tournament on Sunday (January 18, 2026) as frustrated fans queued for hours outside Melbourne Park to express their anger at the sudden halt to ticket sales.
With security heightened following the shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach last month, hundreds of spectators gathered outside the venue in steamy conditions. During the first hour of play, tournament officials suspended sales of the cheaper and highly popular ground tickets due to overwhelming demand.
Ground tickets, priced at A$65 (£34) for adults during day matches, offer access to the outer courts and are a staple for fans eager to soak up the atmosphere of the first Grand Slam of the season. However, tournament director Craig Tiley confirmed that by mid-morning only the more expensive main court tickets were available, something many fans were unaware of as they were still queuing.
Josh Main, a visitor from the Netherlands, said the experience was a major disappointment during a family holiday timed for the tournament.
“We went to look for tickets but there was a big line so I was like, are we in the right row?” Main told Reuters. “They told us there were no more tickets so we couldn’t get in. They said there were tickets left for Rod Laver Arena but we weren’t going to sit there today and it’s expensive. I think it was 300 bucks or something.”
Local supporters also expressed their disappointment. Elton Yu, a Melbourne resident, said he was stunned to find ground passages unavailable.
“I never expected not to have any tickets for the ground passage, which I always do,” he told Reuters.
Another local fan, Susan Walsh, said she and her group already had tickets to the arena but hoped to enter earlier in the day.
“We tried to buy a ground ticket and they just told us it was just tickets for $229 per person,” she said. “I didn’t want to spend that much money, so I’m a little disappointed.
In response to the backlash, Tiley clarified that the suspension only applies to Sunday’s day session and that evening options are still on sale.
“We had to suspend them because of course we want people to come to the place and have a great time,” he told reporters. “There are still ‘After 5’ ground passes available, which are $49. Come get it.”
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
January 18, 2026