A large crowd outside Melbourne Park during the 2026 Australian Open (AP) New Delhi: Roger Federer coined the term “Happy Slam” for the Australian Open in 2007 and it caught on. “Everybody’s happy to see each other, sort of after the offseason. It’s kind of like a ‘Happy Slam,'” Federer said on January 14, 2007.Daria Kasatkina, who recently took Australian citizenship, captured the mood in an interview with The Guardian: “Everyone’s so chill, like ‘if you’re late, you’re late mate’.” It’s okay, take it easy, don’t worry about it.”
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That vibe is evident in the orderly demeanor of nearby Flinders Street train station. It’s clear even in the crowded trams that take you to Melbourne Park. Once you get inside, you will pass long lines, drinks, lawn chairs and ice creams will become a taste even on sultry days.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Federer, who attended the opening of the 2026 Australian Open, elaborated this time: “It felt like a very normal thing to say because a lot of players are happy to escape the European winter,” said the six-time Australian Open winner.“You’re finally happy to maybe see the other players again (after the break), so it’s just very happy. The weather is good, people are incredibly excited and pumped about the Australian Open, we players feel it, the vibe is incredibly happy, nobody’s exhausted and tired (apart from the travel). It’s stuck and I’m glad it’s still like that because I still think the players are here.”
Six-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer (AP)
For the most part, that may be the case, but in the last two weeks there have been grumblings from rewards, the presence of cameras in dressing rooms, the banning of fitness trackers and long queues on outdoor courts.
The rewards are growing, but not even the US Open
This year’s Australian Open produced A$111.5 million ($74.56 million) in prize money, ahead of last year’s French Open ($65.42 million) and Wimbledon ($71.60 million), but falling short of the US Open ($90 million).Last year players wrote to the Slams expressing their displeasure with how much they were getting back to Australia. Tournament director Craig Tiley defended his position saying: “I believe players should continue to be paid more and more players who are on a higher salary, we have 128 in the main draw and 128 qualifiers (men and women) so we are financially supporting over 500 players at each Grand Slam,” he told the AFR.
Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic to win first Australian Open (AP)
Coco Gauff was one of the players who said pressure would be put on administrators if their demands remained unmet.Agitation about prize money is not new. 2013 saw a record increase in prize money after players considered skipping the tournament. In 2018, Djokovic threatened to form a breakaway players’ union and demanded a fairer share of tournament revenue.
“Are we animals in a zoo?”
Revenue growth and subsequent financial rewards go hand in hand with an increase in broadcast fees. Multiple cameras are used beyond just the courts to show more aspects of the tournament. Behind-the-scenes footage is crucial to this puzzle as broadcasters try to get even more bang for their buck. However, some players were not satisfied.Gauff, upset after losing to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, thought she was alone and away from the cameras when she destroyed her racket. Instead, the act was captured by a sneaky camera in the players’ areas near the locker room. Not so surprisingly, it was immediately cut and made waves on social media.
It would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.
Iga Swiatek
At a press conference later, Gauff said, “Maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like we have the only private place in this tournament where we have a locker room. I have a thing with broadcasting. I feel that certain moments do not need to be broadcast.”Iga Swiatek supported Gauff. “The question is, are we tennis players or are we like animals in a zoo where we watch them even when they poop?” she asked.“Okay, that was an exaggeration of course, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would also be nice to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be watched. It would be nice to have some space where you could do it without the whole world watching.”
I’m surprised we don’t have cameras when we shower!
Novak Djokovic
“We’re tennis players. We’re supposed to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation. Oh, it’s funny, yeah, sure. People have things to talk about, but for us, I don’t think it’s necessary.”Even Djokovic used an exaggerated example when he agreed with Gauff. “I mean, I’m surprised we don’t have any cameras when we shower!”Tennis Australia said: “…we value feedback from players and will continue to work together to get the balance right.” Just for the record, Wimbledon and Roland Garros have private areas where players can retreat.
Record crowds, but at what cost?
A massive 1,368,043 people went through the turnstiles at the 2026 Australian Open. The main draw was 1,150,044 people – both tournament records. One reason for the jump can be attributed to affordable ground passes – at A$69 in the first week.On the face of it, it creates a lot of buzz, volume and generates more revenue for the tournament, even though the food and drinks are getting more expensive every year. But the overcrowding tainted the experience for many regulars.“Having too many people at this or any other tournament is a very good problem for us,” Djokovic said after beating Francesco Maestrelli. “It’s a good sign. I really like the mentality here, the desire to keep improving.”
Australian Open 2026 faces overcrowding problem (AP)
Craig Tiley predicted expansion of the complex into the nearby Olympic and Yarra Park precincts to ease the overcrowding problem. He also designed a “translucent dome over the entire precinct”. How that would turn out, if at all, remains to be seen.
Are smartwatches a performance-enhancing drug?
Eventual champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were asked to remove their fitness trackers from their wrists. Aryna Sabalenkova was also told to remove the device. These health analysis devices, known as wearables, are allowed on both the men’s and women’s tours from 2024 and 2021, but not the Slams. It’s another point where tennis administrators need to get together and simplify things, but that’s a long list.“Athletes have a fundamental right to understand their own performance and health — even while competing at events like the Australian Open,” says Whoop, the brand Alcaraz wears. “Blocking access to personal health data does not protect sport.”Company CEO Will Ahmed took to social media after Alcaraz was asked to remove his tracker: “Ridiculous. Whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation to be worn during a match and poses no safety risk. Let the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids!”
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Without giving the reason(s) for its decision, Tennis Australia defended itself, saying it does provide some health data to players. “They can monitor key external load measurements such as distance traveled, changes in direction, high acceleration events and projectile speed/rotation,” he said.Football, baseball, American football, basketball and cricket have all embraced data analytics and connected athletes’ bodies to understand their limits. However, tennis is late. And after the Australian Open, he missed another stop.
