Could be working: As the event heads to Sunday’s conclusion, 10 of the first 12 days had record attendance, including more than 97,000 on site on Jan. 17, the highest one-day number in tournament history.
“It’s fun in Australia. It’s a place where you see people coming from all over the world, which creates a great atmosphere. Sometimes, I think … it can go a little bit over the line. There are traditions in tennis that are important that make tennis unique,” said Patrick McEnroe, an ex-player and former captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team.
“You have to move with the times,” McEnroe continued, “but I think there’s something about the quiet that happens in a great tennis match that’s unique.”
This whole phenomenon is not unique to Melbourne Park, though.
Unusual scenes have been playing out in the stands at Roland Garros, Flushing Meadows and — gasp! — even the All England Club.
During the 2022 Wimbledon final, Nick Kyrgios got into a back-and-forth with one particularly bothersome spectator, who later sued him. Crowds at the U.S. Open have been notoriously rambunctious for a while, especially when the drinks flow at night, including the jeering that drowned out the trophy ceremony when Naomi Osaka defeated Serena Williams in the 2018 women’s final.
Last year, French Open organizers stopped letting ticket-holders bring alcohol to their seats after one player, Belgian David Goffin, complained about having gum spat at him.
“It’s becoming soccer,” Goffin said. “Soon there’ll be smoke bombs, hooligans and fights in the stands. I think it’s getting ridiculous.”
