2014 Australian Open Expects Record Attendance This Year

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 7th January 2014

2014 Australian Open Expects Record Attendance This Year

epa03557831 Tennis fans watch the match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Andy Murray of Great Britain in the men's singles final of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 27 January 2013. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Attendance records are expected to be broken when the Australian Open starts next week as officials make an optimistic prediction of exceeding the nearly 685,000 who poured through the gates of Melbourne Park a year ago over the grand slam event fortnight.

The event which offers a record $30 million in prize money is expected to be played in hot summer conditions once a current cold front which have dropped temperatures into the low 20 Celsius is gone this week,

Officials are quick to tout their healthy ticket sales: “Of course, the final figure, and whether we break any records or not, tends to depend on the conditions each day,” said tournament director Craig Tiley to local media. “But I’m extremely pleased with the position we are in a week out from the event.”

Pre-event odds are already shaping up, with men’s holder Novak Djokovic installed at $2.15 (for a $1 bet) as the Serb aims for a fourth straight Australian title. Women’s top seed Serena Williams is set at $1.70.

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2014, Australian Open, Craig Tiley, Melbourne Park, Serena Williams, Tennis, Tennis News