Unraveling The Labyrinth Of Player Spaces At The Australian Open

The grandest stage on the tennis calendar’s first spectacle each year—Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open— has both a public-facing persona and one known only to the players and their teams.

At the expansive Australian Open at Melbourne Park, player spaces largely dip below the public thoroughfares, with a tunnel system connecting the below-ground environment to amenities and courts entrances. Add in a players-only perch at Rod Laver Arena, affectionally dubbed RLA for those as the AO, and players have an entire world to themselves on the largest grounds of the four majors (at nearly 100 acres, the AO is more than twice as big as both the U.S. Open’s 46 acres and Wimbledon’s 42 acres, not to mention the tight 34 acres at Roland Garros).

Players start underground at the AO. Transportation arrives directly at the belly of the 14,800-capacity arena and then players enter into the heart of their space, akin to an arrivals hall. From that hub, the options branch abundantly.

While the subterranean space beneath RLA is taken up for the players, it doesn’t stop there. The hallways extend into tunnels and stretch below Margaret Court Arena and much of the terrace areas outside the venues, allowing players to reach nearly every court on the grounds while remaining underground (although, getting all the way to John Cain Areana does generally involve a “buggy” ride).

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Underground, the players enjoy locker rooms, three separate gym spaces, a recharge area, match call areas, a stringing room, a players’ concierge—the gifting area is included in this, with the July luggage from Australia a popular piece—and food and smoothie areas in a mix of small lounges.

“Instead of a really big space, we have lots of smaller spaces,” Prue Ryan, the Tennis Australia’s head of public relations, tells me.

Along with the tennis-related areas underground, players can also hit Gentleman Jacks Barber, the expanded Mecca Beauty Bar, a nail and brow artist, a childcare room or even one of many licensed medical professionals, such as the Foot Fault room’s podiatrist.

Each year, the AO works to improve the experience for players and coaches. Ryan says the tournament is focused on elevating the coaches and has created the first on-court coaching areas in the sport’s majors. Most coaches have adopted the new system that allows them closer access to the players. The underground player space also features a coach’s lounge, all part of embracing the sport’s coaches.

New for players past and present is the updated walk-out tunnel at RLA. Traditionally lined with past champions, this year includes an update with new LED boards that feature a video of the trophy lift for each of the past champions. This walk sends players directly from the underground space onto the only court at the AO that crowns champions. Each venue has its own walk-out experience, but none is quite as extensive as the one at RLA.

Player space at the AO isn’t only underground. Players tuck behind the famed glass façade at RLA, with the main player dining area on level three of the arena. Dining options include grab-and-go items, Roy’s Deli, a revolving action station and burgers and pizza. Seating all overlooks the main RLA terrace. One more level up and players have the option for a juice and smoothie bar, a sushi bar and the Cambio de Tercio restaurant on the fourth level. In its second year at the AO, the popular London-based Spanish-style Cambio de Tercio restaurant is run by Abel Lusa, a favorite of both Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal. The fourth level also includes additional lounge space.

To give the players a slightly different media experience, the broadcast center located in the site’s Centerpiece building features multiple cinema-style studios, including one where player head shots and broadcast videos are made using a variety of props and backgrounds.

Each element comes with the goal of elevating the player experience at the Australian Open, even if that means sometimes going underground.