Why this photograph exhibits the Australian Open has a HUGE downside

Rows of empty seats during a top-10 women’s match have raised questions over ticketing, scheduling and hospitality at the Australian Open. 

The image was taken on Monday during a round-of-16 clash between world No.6 Jessica Pegula and world No.9 Madison Keys. 

While large sections of the lower bowl of Rod Laver Arena were occupied, multiple blocks of prime seats behind both baselines were visibly vacant.

Tennis fans were baffled by the sight of so many seats being left vacant at such a critical point of the tournament.

‘Everywhere you look, empty seats in Rod Laver Arena,’ one posted to social media.

‘So many empty seats at RLA tonight,’ another fumed.

Despite the fact the Australian Open is reaching the business end, there were scores of empty seats for the clash between Jessica Pegula and World No.9 Madison Keys

The seats for the match were sold, the people who bought them just had not shown up to the beginning of the match

The empty seats belonged to premium ticketholders who were enjoying hospitality in places like the Chandelier Room

‘Media and corporates shouldn’t be given priority especially if they can’t fill them. Should promote and make more accessible for tennis fans.’

Another added: ‘Disappointing to see so many empty seats in prime sections of Rod Laver Arena.’

Those seats had been sold. Ticketholders were elsewhere inside Melbourne Park as part of AO Reserve’s Club 1905 hospitality offering, which includes access to the Chandelier Room, premium food and beverage service and balcony bars. 

Hospitality services opened as the match began and ran through the duration of play.

Pegula defeated Keys 6–3, 6–4 in one hour and 18 minutes. By the time many hospitality patrons could return to their seats, the match was nearing completion.

The optics have drawn criticism as the tournament simultaneously reports unprecedented crowd numbers. 

On the opening weekend, more than 73,000 fans entered Melbourne Park in a single day, with queues stretching for hours and ground pass sales temporarily suspended due to congestion.

Madison Keys continued her deep run into the Australian Open with her straight sets victory

The all-USA showdown should have attracted a full house, not rows of empty seats in the main stadium

‘They’ve absolutely ruined the Australian open experience,’ one tennis fan posted on social media. 

‘Too many paid courts, too many people. Too much time waiting in queues to get in, get food or to see a player you want to see. And now too expensive.

‘Shame considering how good it once was.’

On Wednesday night, fans who paid hundreds of dollars for a night session left early after a women’s second-round match ended in little more than an hour. 

‘Some fans paid hundreds to watch the night match at Rod Laver,’ one supporter wrote online. ‘Half of them left early with a totally uninspiring choice of match.’

Others questioned scheduling decisions that placed short or one-sided matches on centre court, while higher-profile contests were assigned to other arenas. 

British player Emma Raducanu earlier criticised the practice of scheduling women’s matches after potential five-set men’s encounters, saying: ‘It’s very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match. 

‘To me, it doesn’t really make much sense.’

Rod Laver Arena has a capacity of about 15,000. With ticket prices regularly reaching the high hundreds or thousands for premium sessions, empty sections during marquee matches have amplified concerns about value for money and access.