The Australian Open will this year take place Sunday, January 14 to Sunday, January 29. If you’ve watched it in past years, you might’ve noticed that game after game, many of the players are taking a page from Steve Jobs’ book and wearing the same outfit.
So, why is that? Well, the reason is that professional players have clothing brand sponsors — think Nike, Lacoste, and Adidas — that pay the players to wear outfits and accessories like hats, shoes and bags from their latest ranges, mostly with obvious logos, on the court.
At the start of a tournament, players will often be given multiple sets of the same outfit, which they’ll then wear throughout, as part of big endorsement deals. This is because, although players do have the chance to, of course, win whopping sums of Australian Open prize money, if they don’t happen to win, the majority of their annual earnings will come from these endorsement deals.
Often, the players will be sponsored by the same brands, and, as the brands want to be showcasing their newest range, that can lead to players wearing the same outfits. The higher the player is ranked, the more money a brand needs to shell out to sponsor them, meaning there are only a few brands that can afford to dress the best players. Again, this can lead to top players being dressed in the same brands’ outfits.
This year, some of Australia’s best restaurants and bars will be setting up shop at the Australian Open in 2024, including Serai and iconic restaurateur Alejandro Saravia’s VICTORIA by Farmer’s Daughter. Venues can be found at Garden Square, Grand Slam Oval, John Cain Arena, the Western Courts, Rod Laver Arena Terraced, and The Glasshouse.
Here are the best food options at the 2024 Australian Open:
- Serai | Ross Magnaye brings his beloved grilled barramundi with smoked buro butter and calamansi citrus to the Easter Lounge at John Cain Arena.
- Little Havana | This new addition to the Prahran food scene, from Charlie Carrington, promises a Cuban sandwich reminiscent of Miami’s Cuban neighbourhood.
- AO Courtside Bar | Hailing from Sydney, Joel Bennet is bringing his Bondi Beach Fish Shop courtside at the AO. Tuck into his take on a tiger prawn roll.
- Salamatea | One word: Persian falafel wraps.
- Light Year | Byron Bay’s Light Year is slinging barramundi bao’s with yuzu tartare.
- Uncle Charlie’s | Think salted popcorn with a native Australian twist.
- Bar Atrium | Venture to the Bar Atrium for a sample of Tom Sarafin’s Lebanese-inspired delights.
- Rockpool Bar & Grill | Find classic Rockpool Bar & Grill dishes at Centrepiece on Level 1. There’s a three-course menu up for grabs and a two-hour beverage package.
- VICTORIA by Farmer’s Daughter | Chef Alejandro Saravia has designed a three-course share-style menu for dinners at Federation Square during finals weekend.
- Stokehouse | Summery St Kilda icon has bookings from $320, and we guarantee you won’t leave hungry
Check out everything else happening at the Australian Open here.
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