The Australian Open has been forced to increase staffing at entry gates after record-breaking crowds led to long queues on the opening day of the tournament. A total of 73,235 spectators attended Sunday's first day of the main draw, surpassing the previous record of 68,883 set on the middle Saturday of the 2019 event.
Fans faced significant delays at security checkpoints and when accessing courts, with queues persisting into Monday morning. However, by lunchtime on Monday, the additional staff deployment had alleviated the problem, though movement around the precinct remained slow. A Tennis Australia spokesperson advised fans to "plan ahead" by booking tickets in advance and downloading them before arrival.
Tournament organisers have invested in developing the northern and western parts of Melbourne Park to boost capacity and provide more attractions. Despite the site not being radically different from 2025, these efforts have enabled a record crowd. New features include an expanded courtside bar near court six, connected to elevated viewing stands, which have been at capacity for much of the first two days, requiring one-in, one-out queuing.
Temperatures reached 30C in Melbourne, prompting the introduction of a new shade structure with seating and a large screen to offer respite. On Sunday, organisers temporarily paused the sale of ground passes to prevent the site from exceeding capacity. Craig Tiley, chief executive of Tennis Australia, acknowledged the unexpected surge, saying: "There was no question that there were more people coming on the grounds than even we expected."
Melbourne Park is set to unveil its next phase of development, with Tiley suggesting sinking courts below ground to allow easier access for spectators. Storm Hunter, who won her first-round match on Monday, praised the tournament's growth, calling it "unbelievable" that attendance had surpassed 100,000 overall. The Monday day session recorded a new tournament record of 68,687 spectators, up from 59,621 last year.
