It’s been ace. We speak, of course, of the Australian Open. The past two weeks have shown not only to ourselves, but to the world that it is arguably the nation’s premier sporting event – though AFL finals and spring racing carnival organisers may disagree. The State of Origin series is the only regular interstate event that presents any serious rivalry to those Victorian sporting highlights.

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her semi-final win.Credit: Eddie Jim

The Open shines like no other grand slam, in its innovation within the line markings of tradition, and in how it has taken tennis to a higher level. Each of the other slams, Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open, have their undeniable attractions, but it can be forcefully argued that in serving the future, Melbourne is the pioneer and front-runner.

The numbers confirm this. Last year, attendance hit 1,020,763. The year before it was 839,192. This year’s total has surpassed 2023’s and is on track to beat 2024. On one day last week, more than 97,000 people went through the gates. It’s a far cry from the lawns of Kooyong.

The spectacle of today’s tournament is not the result of a lucky shot catching the line. It is because of a determination and grit to make it so through a vision of taking the attraction of the Open to the world, and of the world coming to Melbourne. The tournament now features........

© The Age