MELBOURNE: Australian Open organisers came under fire on the Grand Slam’s opening day today as frustrated fans sweated in long queues to the gates of Melbourne Park and complained of confusion over the suspension of ticket sales.
With heightened security at the event in the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney last month, hundreds of spectators gathered outside the venue in hot weather before tournament officials paused sales of the cheaper “ground pass” tickets within the first hour of play due to intense demand.
Ground passes, which cost A$65 (US$43) for adults during day sessions, allow largely unfettered access to the minor courts and are hugely popular at the year’s first Grand Slam.