The first tournament in the Grand Slam® calendar, the Australian Open is like a fresh start, as key ranking points are there for the taking on the men’s (ATP) and women’s (WTA) tours at the turn of the new year. The tournament has been played in January since 1987. After the off-season, athletes return refreshed and reinvigorated to a friendly atmosphere. The finals are contested at the Rod Laver Arena, the Melbourne Park complex’s central court, in front of almost 15,000 spectators.