The 2026 Australian Open is just days away, and the excitement buzzes with energy! Over the years, the Melbourne major has thrilled fans like no other. In the modern era, Novak Djokovic dominates with 10 titles here. He sits just one short of Margaret Court’s record of 11 AO crowns! Djokovic’s clash with Rafael Nadal in the epic 2012 final that lasted for 5-hour-53-minute 2012 final remains the longest Grand Slam ever played. They started with a “good evening” wish and ended with a “good morning” in the post-match ceremony.

Now, champions like Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys shine bright as the defending champions! But there’s more to come this time around with the rest of the tour eyeing glory at Melbourne! Yet the first Grand Slam of the season holds something even more fascinating. So let’s dive into a bit of history!

1. The Australian Open’s unlikely beginnings were on a cricket ground!

The first Grand Slam of the season takes over Melbourne in the last fortnight of January, drawing the world’s best and setting the tone for the year ahead. Today, it feels timeless, polished, and massive. But its very first chapter was anything but ordinary. Back in 1905, the tournament made its debut under a very different name: “Australasian Championships.”

That inaugural edition was staged in 1905 and stood tall as the biggest sporting event in the southern hemisphere at the time, a bold statement for a sport still finding its footing. But instead of a tennis court, this historic debut actually went down at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground, which fans today know as the Albert Reserve! However, it wasn’t just the location or arena that changed over time!

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2. The surface change that reshaped the Australian Open

Today, AO and Rod Laver Arena are iconic for their bright blue hard courts! But before the era of hardcourt champions like Sinner, Djokovic, and Sabalenka, this Slam was actually a grass-court tradition until 1987. Once hard courts hit the scene, management traded the turf for green and blue synthetic surfaces. Today, the iconic blue Greenset courts define the high-speed drama at Rod Laver Arena.

This massive surface swap in 1988 totally revolutionized the game. It didn’t just change the literal ground beneath the players’ feet. It signaled a bold evolution to match the lightning-fast energy of modern tennis! But that’s not all the tournament has introduced over the years.

3. How the Australian Open tackles extreme heat like no other Grand Slam

This Grand Slam kicks off every January right in the heart of a scorching summer. While fans soak up the vibes, players are often seen diving into ice packs and draping cold towels over their necks just to survive. With temperatures frequently soaring to 34°C and 40°C, the heat is absolutely no joke for these elite athletes.

Things got serious in 2019 when officials launched the Extreme Heat Policy based on deep medical research. They created the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale to monitor the air temperature, sun strength, humidity, and wind speed across the park. This clever system tracks exactly when the conditions shift from challenging to dangerous. It ensures everyone stays safe while the competition stays fierce under the blistering sun.

When that scale climbs to a ‘4’ during the early sets, the rules change to give players a much-needed breather. Women, juniors, and wheelchair athletes get extra time to cool down before their final sets begin. Even the men get a unique 10-minute break after their third set, which is a special perk you won’t find at any other Grand Slam! Certainly lives up to its nickname, right?

4. Roger Federer’s role in AO’s ‘Happy Slam’ nickname

The Australian Open has definitely earned its glowing reputation. Known for its friendly vibes and top-tier organization, the tournament is famously dubbed the “Happy Slam.” This nickname perfectly reflects a welcoming environment that showcases the true Aussie spirit. But how did it come around?

The six-time champion of this court, Roger Federer, actually coined the iconic term! It perfectly captures the sense of renewal and fresh energy that defines the event. After eleven months of grueling travel and media pressure, many players feel like they are crawling to the finish line of the season. However, a short rest works wonders. Soon enough, the itch to strike tennis balls returns in full force. Players arrive in Melbourne with a sense of optimism. The atmosphere feels less like a pressure cooker and more like a total blank slate.

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas shared that same sentiment in an interview. He said:

“The first time I visited Australia I got an understanding of just how warm and nice people are there. It always has a special place in my heart visiting Australia.”

But did you know, there was actually a time when the Australian Open did not take place at all!

5. How World War once brought the Australian Open to a halt

AO hasn’t always had a clear run. The tournament actually came to a halt from 1916 to 1918, when World War I gripped the globe, making it impossible to organize the event. History repeated itself during World War II. The Grand Slam wasn’t held at all from 1941 to 1945. Global turmoil simply took priority over sport.

A major shift arrived decades later. In 1972, organizers decided the tournament would stay in Melbourne every year. The city consistently delivered the strongest crowds in the country. From 1972 until 1987, the Australian Open called the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club home. That venue became an absolute icon. However, it eventually struggled to keep up with the tournament’s booming popularity.

That growth sparked a bold move. In 1988, the event relocated to the brand-new Flinders Park complex. The site was built specifically for a Grand Slam that had outgrown Kooyong. The payoff was instant. Attendance jumped by a massive 90 percent in 1988. Records show 266,436 fans walked through the gates. That was a huge leap from the 140,000 people who attended the previous year.

Right now, the excitement is building all over again. The Australian Open 2026 will run from January 12 to February 1. Kicking off the first Grand Slam of the season, the stage is set for something special. The question now is, who walks away with the titles this time?