Did you mean the 100th anniversary?
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Wildcard and promising young Australian Kimberley Birrell’s run at the Brisbane International came to an end this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Jordan Thompson is about to take to Pat Rafter Arena against crowd pleaser and veteran Grigor Dimitrov (a tournament he loves and has always done great at including a former champion IIRC).
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On 3AW’s Wide World of Sports this evening, host Bruce Eva had a chat with former tennis player Peter Johnston, who is in Hong Kong and worked at the recent Bank of China Hong Kong Open men’s tournament. Johnston, who has also been tournament director of Melbourne’s Kooyong Classic for several years, said the exhibition tournament was not on this year but would return in 2026. He said Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club had underwritten the event for the last two years and was looking for an external organiser to make it more viable.
EDIT: also see
Was’nt there talk that the Kooyong tennis center was being upgraded? If it is wouldn’t this be the main reason it’s not on?
Financial issues at the tennis club it seems. This is from the CBD column of The Age on December 2 last year.
Regular readers will recall that the “spiritual home of Australian tennis”, and host of the Australian Open from 1972 to 1987, was engulfed in controversy late last year when it called in external auditors over a $2.4 million “accounting loss” from its dining and functions operations.
… it all culminated in the AGM on Wednesday, which announced the results of board elections and the presentation of the annual report to members.
The good news: the club announced a $535,000 operating profit for the previous financial year, after an operating loss over the same period prior of $963,000.
But members remained upset at the lack of detail in the report, questioned the accounting methods used and expressed their consternation about a lack of consultation before closure of the club’s creche. They were also unimpressed by outgoing interim president Darren O’Loughlin’s request on the night that members refrain from commenting and stick to asking questions.
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The photo wasn’t the scroop it was the ridiculous caption “tennis player seen smiling in Melbourne”.
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#AusOpen full women’s singles draw: pic.twitter.com/za3PiiX96R
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 9, 2025
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Kokkinakis has just withdrawn from tonight’s QF with rising son of a former champ Seb Korda at The Drive, now two women’s matches. Disappointing for him, after how amazing his effort was last night. An injury being cited, unsure if serious or not, obviously doesn’t want to risk ahead of Sunday’s AO 1st round.
A Night With Novak the focus however, special event at Melbourne Park.
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“I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I was, I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury.”
Hasnt he retired yet?
He’ll still be playing tennis when he’s over 40
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Today’s Adelaide International semis are off to a hot start, both on and off the court. Currently on 9Gem.
Running overtime, the match on centre court Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime is facing fellow North American top US seed in the tournament Tommy Paul in a 2.5hr+ marathon, in still 30+ degree heat at Memorial Drive. It’s gone the distance, after the 5th seed took a tense first set in a tie break, the American came back comfortably 6-3, now down a break to Felix in the final set.
Up and coming young stars Seb Korda and Jess Pegula (also both from the USA) are scheduled tonight in prime time.
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Meanwhile, exclusive on 9Now and Stan Sport is the next special event at Melbourne Park, between defending champ Jannik Sinner and local fan favourite Stefanos Tsitsipas ‘The Game Changers’ exhibition match.
…And of course the first run mainstream movie on the main channel also tennis themed.
So a racquet night whereever you look across Nine this evening! 
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updated 12am edt 11/1
Madison Keys, Jess Pagula, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Seb Korda all progressed today (all North Americans too with 3 from the USA) in the semis and will meet tomorrow in the final. 2025 Adelaide International at The Drive, South Australia.
Coverage will be on 9Gem, the men’s singles final slated for a prime time start between 6:30pm - 7:30pm start.
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It’s a good idea to start a day earlier at the AO this year as it takes a while to get through all the 1st round matches,and hopefully they won’t get behind in the schedule if there’s any unforeseen delays,weather,etc
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Though one of the reasons for the early start was to try and cut down on the late-night finishes which have plagued (or, IMO, symbolized) the Australian Open in recent years. Who could forget the famous 4:34am finish between Hewitt and Baghdatis in 2008 or the post-4:00am finish between Murray and Kokkinakis in 2023?
Even so, there will still be post-midnight finishes at this year’s AO, while last year a match involving Daniil Medvedev didn’t finish until 3:40am in the morning.
Wouldn’t be surprised if/when the US Open follows suit with a Sunday start (Monday morning AEST).
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