If you think about the traditions in tennis that are not directly related to the sport, then you shouldn't forget Craig Tiley's annual performance just before the start of the Australian Open. Tiley, the busy boss of Tennis Australia, who is jointly responsible for the introduction of the ATP Cup that has already been discontinued and the United Cup that is currently underway, then stands in front of the TV cameras and announces in a voice pregnant with fate that Melbourne will be the location for the first major of the year is in danger.

Because there are supposedly some cities that would adopt the Happy Slam right away. Interestingly, Sydney was also discussed, but Shanghai is said to have expressed an interest a few years ago. The addressees of Craig Tiley's comments are also clearly defined: they are the political leaders in the state of Victoria, who should please ensure that they remain in Melbourne through even more generous support.

Craig Tiley and the healthy business model

This is estimated by the politicians at more than one billion Australian dollars. "The Australian Open is not going anywhere," Victoria Police Minister Anthony Carbines said after Tiley's comments earlier this year. "The best thing the Victorians can do is come to the tournament and show their support."

Of course, Craig Tiley also knows that Tennis Australia holds a pot of gold in its hands. "In good times we have a very healthy business model, very attractive for private investors. So there was a lot of interest there. ”During the corona pandemic, however, Tennis-Australia is said to have lost up to 80 million Australian dollars. Incidentally, the current contract for hosting the first Grand Slam event of the year in Melbourne runs until 2039.