The 2015 Australian Open: Tennis At Its Best
All roads lead to Melbourne Park as the prestigious two-week long Australian Open started last Monday. Trains, trams, buses and even boats are jampacked as thousands of tennis loving Aussies leave their homes early in the morning to make a beeline for the ticket booths and watch exciting tennis at the Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court, Hisense Arena and the open courts. Tennis is one of the most popular sports in Australia with almost all towns and villages having their own tennis courts. Australia has produced tennis champions Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong.
The Australian Open is the first of four grand slam tournaments slated each year. The other three are the French Open, The Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Tennis superstars like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka are expected to breeze past their opponents in the early rounds.The same can be said of Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwanska who all have kept improving. The first major casualties were Roger Federer who lost to Andreas Seppi of Italy and Ana Ivanovic who was upset by Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic.
This year's Australian Open is giving record-prize money. Eventual champions in both men's and women's divisions will receive $3.1 million each. This is higher than the prize money at last year's U.S. Open. 1st round losers will get at least $34 thousand. Players are also paid regularly for product endorsements. Major sponsors are Kia, Wilson, Jacob's Creek, Rolex and many more.
- Konted
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| Bus service from Caroline Springs to the Watergardens Train Terrminal in Sydenham. |
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| Trains are filled to the brim as tennis fans travel to the city to watch the Australian Open at Melborne Park. |
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| Flinders Street Train Station at the heart of the city |
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| Guiding tennis buffs to the free tram ride |
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| Long lines at the tram stop |
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| Tram bound for Melbourne Park is jam packed. |
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| One option is to walk to Melbourne Park via the banks of the Yarra River. |
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| An Australian Open ticket outlet near Federation Square |
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| Tennis enthusiasts starting to walk towards the Yarra River. |
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| There is a walkway by the banks of the Yarra River that leads to Melbourne Park where the Australian Open games are played. |
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| Many boats at the Yarra River are busy transporting passengers from the Central Business District to Melbourne Park. |
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| Tennis Taxi's waiting area near the banks of the Yarra River |
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| This is Tennis Taxi. It transports passengers from the Central Business District to Melbourne Park and back. |
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| Ticket booth in front of the Rod Laver Arena |
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| Entrance to the grounds of the Rod Laver Arena |
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| One of several entrances to the tennis courts |
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| Get here a copy of the schedule of games. |
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| The Rod Laver Arena was named after the legendary Australian tennis champion. |
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| Rod Laver Arena's hallway |
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| Get quick, reliable information here. |
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| Ticket office at the Rod Laver Arena. |
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| The Rod Laver Arena is the crown jewel of Melbourne's tennis precinct. It has retractable roof. |
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| The Rod Laver Arena can accommodate 15,000 spectators. |
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| The Rod Laver Arena has courteous and helpful usherettes. |
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| Buy your souvenir items here. |
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| Food and drinks outlet at the Rod Laver Arena |
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| Kia is one of the major sponsors of the Australian Open. |
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| Co-broadcasting the tournament |
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| Posing for souvenir shots |
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| Spectators moving from one court to another |
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| Souvenir shops |
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| MacDonald's promo |
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| Live scores, videos, photos and news |
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| Drinking area |
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| Drinking beer in plastic cup is allowed . |
