The 2023 Australian Open is here and the summer of tennis is well and truly underway.
Beginning January 16, players from all around the world flock to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Played at Melbourne Park across six courts, 256 competitors (128 men and women's singles) battle it out for individual glory and the hope they can hold aloft the Australian Open trophy.
Of those six courts, Rod Laver Arena - named after the legendary tennis player - poses as the biggest stadium, attracting the best talent on each day of the tournament.
The court holds approximately 15,000 patrons and is located within the famous Melbourne Sports Precinct that includes the MCG and AAMI Park.
Rod Laver Arena was originally named Flinders Park and then Centre Court before it changed to honour one of Australia's greatest tennis players in January 2000.
Rod Laver Arena History
Originally named Flinders Park, the venue was completed in 1988 as part of the original National Tennis Centre complex.
With its unique ability to be transformed, the court can host a variety of events, from tennis matches to rock concerts to the motorbike super-cross.
Shortly after the venue opened, AC/DC became the first live band to perform there.
Even in 2007 it held the FINA World Swimming Championships when a 50-metre pool was temporarily built on the floor.
At the time of its opening, it was regarded as one of the most high-tech arenas in the world, with a world-first movable roof design that allowed events to have an open air feel or an enclosed stadium at a moment's notice.
At the southern end of the venue, it has removable seating that converts to more space for concerts.
The arena was also home to Melbourne Basketball in the 1990s, which has recorded the highest crowd number (15,366) in 1996 for a match between the Magic and Tigers.
By 2000, the court was renamed Rod Laver Arena in recognition of Laver's incredible tennis career.
Rod Laver Arena Size and Capacity
Rod Laver Arena has a seating capacity of approximately 15,000 patrons.
