As we wind down the 2014 ATP Tennis Tour, it is clear that the men’s game is as strong as ever. The four majors – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open each had their own winner with no one taking home multiple majors in 2014. Not only that, but Roger Federer and Andy Murray both went major-less in 2014, demonstrating how the game has become much more than just the top level of the best three or four players in the world. Sure, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are still major players and Federer and Murray are always in it until the end, but guys like Stanislas Wawrinka and Marin Cilic showed that the men’s field has never been deeper.
As we look ahead to 2015, fans can only hope for a similar type of competitive nature from all players. The first big test is two months away when the Australian Open takes place in Melbourne. According to TiqIQ, the average price for a ticket to the Australian Open semifinals is $880. Cheaper ticketing options are available for the earlier rounds with prices less than $300 for the first, second, and third rounds, but it will be difficult to find anything much cheaper. And fans in the States will need to pony up for flights as well. For fans looking to fly to the land down under, Melbourne Australia has one airport, the Tullumarine International.
However, though ticket prices and flights will cost a good chunk of change, it will actually be quite cheap to find lodging. Hipmunk’s best hotels in Melbourne have rates for as low as $88 during the Australian Open.
This will be the first test of 2015 and the first opportunity for a new player to prove his mettle. Wawrinka opened up 2014 with a phenomenal performance, besting Rafael Nadal in the final 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to win his first Grand Slam title and the second Swiss player (after Roger Federer) to do so. One can only hope that 2015 kicks off in just as an exciting way as 2014.
