On January 14th 2013, Melbourne Park will host the 26th Australian Open, the 101st edition of the Australasian Championships/Australian Championships/Australian Open.
This will be the 45th tournament since it became formally known as the ‘Australian Open’ in 1969.
In 2012, Novak Djokovic made a grand start to the Tennis calendar year in which he became 10th player since 1969 to win consecutive Australian Open titles and the first since Roger Federer’s double in 2006-2007.
Throughout the 2012 two-week tournament the Open attracted 686,006 fans to the tournament, making it the highest attended Australian Open in history.
Prior to commencement in 2012, Craig Tiley, tournament director, announced an increase in the overall prize money to $26 million, therefore making it the highest prize money for a tennis tournament.
It was later announced that the prize money would again increase to $30 million from the 2013 Open onwards.
On December 10th, Craig Tiley declared he would expect Rafael Nadal to be fit for the January 14 Grand Slam.
World No. 4 Nadal, after missing six months of Tennis due to injury, has pencilled in December 27 Abu Dhabi as his next exhibition match in which his preparations are currently aimed at reaching prime fitness for another shot at the Australian Open Grand Slam.
In an epic five hour and 53 minute final loss to Novak Djokovic in the 2012 final, Craig Tiley understands perfectly the importance Nadal has as a drawcard.
As of Monday 19th November (official year-end rankings) Djokovic stood atop of the following pack ranked first in the world with 12,920 points. Ranking second was Roger Federer with 10,265 points, third Andy Murray on 8,000 points and the hopeful return of fourth seed Rafael Nadal with 6,690 points.
These four have been the most dominant players in recent years with the consistent David Ferrer just slightly behind causing upsets along the way.
Tournament organisers will be hoping for another great Open and are aiming to crack 700,000 spectators for the first time in history.
With player payments becoming an issue during the midway point of the 2012 season, the ATP Player Council, led by the chorus of Roger Federer, will look towards 2013 to again focus on what happens on the field.
Djokovic has been listed as tournament favourite and if successful will become the first player to win three consecutive Australian Open Grand Slams since Roy Emerson’s efforts prior in 1969 (1963-1969).
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