Bigger Isn't Always Better : Aus Open review

Yes, the final Aus Open report is here. Since history was created last night, I figured
it was better to write something after the event has been finalised.

Congratulations to Carlos Alcaraz on creating history. The youngest man to win all 4
majors at least once. Sure, surface homogenisation has made this feat a lot easier
than previously but still a great achievement. Alcaraz has a combo of the big 3, his
defensive skills are on par with Djokovic, the anticipation and heavy forehand up
there with Nadal and variety of Federer.

Alcaraz

The main differences between Alcaraz and the Prince who have been dominating
over the last few years are that Alcaraz has more ways to defeat the player than
Sinner. Two, the highest level of Alcaraz is greater than Sinner but the lower level of
Sinner is higher. The difficult thing for Sinner is that the gap between the levels is
decreasing for Alcaraz.

Now onto the not so fun stuff. The Australian Open has changed and not always for
the better. The moniker for the event is the “Happy Slam”, but if we are being honest
that is a sham. The only people who are happy are TA as they are making shitloads
of money, yes shitloads is an official unit of monetary measurement. They like to say
that they take on feedback, in most cases when it suits their agenda. To be fair they
did increase the amount of water stations.

Another thing the organisation loves to crow about is record crowds. As they only
care about money then it is successful, but honestly what is the point of record
crowds when it’s a shit customer experience for many. This is not an example of old
man yelling at clouds or everything is better back in my day. Numerous news
outlets and other online forums have had many complaints about way too many
people at the tennis.

Previously the event sold itself with the tennis as the main spectacle and the prices
for a major event were affordable to take the family especially in the early rounds on
the outside courts where you could see quality matches. Of course, CPI is a thing,
$20 now doesn’t have the same value as 6 years ago, costs have increased while
this is true. The ground passes are quite expensive for what you get these days.

To alleviate the shit customer experience, they need to find solutions. Either

increase the capacity of the courts, expand into the Olympic village precinct. I had

seen that there were a few electronic screens showing approximate court capacity, in

theory that is a good idea, but the reality isn’t so accurate as it does not consider the

ludicrously deep lines for some of the outside courts. Then there is the phenom of

sitting through 1 or 2 matches before waiting for the last match on court which

contributes to the huge lines.

This has been an increasing problem over the last 3 years. A perfect example last

year was the match between Dangerous Daniel Altmaier and Comesana out on one

of the back courts. This match unless you’re German, Argentinian or a sport idiot

like me then most would not know these two and had a line up to get in.

In addition to this, now the tennis is a bit of a sideshow instead of the main act. TA

have marketed that this is a 3 week event but qualies had record crowds when this

should not be happening at all. So many people getting in the way, but if there is a

positive that some young kid watched some matches and found a player, they

became a fan of. Not all of us were born as fanatics, the hook has to start

somewhere.

This leads to the next issue now you have these drunk bogans who don’t give a shit

about the sport thinking they’re witty when for the most part they’re as humorous as

haemorrhoids. Yes, the parasitic influencers are there as well, adding nothing at all.

People go there to be seen, can’t tell the difference between forehand and forehead.

Yay, I was at the tennis it was so good. Who did you see? I don’t know mate, I didn’t

see anyone.

The Good

Well, it’s always great catching up with people I enjoy being around despite the other

crap going on. Great to see Petea, Lance, Owen, Sean, Scootus, Matt, Febbo, the

Mailman. Plus, the Cuevas brothers Pablo is still a legend and younger but bigger

brother Martin as well.

Argentinian fans with the gourds drinking their mate with some proper crowd noise.

The Cerundolo vs. Rublev match where Fran was so moved at the end of the

match, where he felt like he was in Argentina taking selfies with the fans afterwards.

Court 14 where the grand piss came about with the change of wind. Everyone

holding their nose or coughing, just reminded me from some of the very dingy music

venues that I may have frequented in the past.

John Blom an umpiring masterclass in the final.  I mean this classic line “Ladies and gentlemen, if you call out during the point you will be sent out, and that will ruin your night,”

So, it wasn’t all shit, but would I recommend a friend to go to the Aus Open tennis.

Before without a doubt it would be yes, but now it would be a no.

Bigger isn't always better unless it's males in the porn industry, but hey record crowds.