Photo credit: Tennis Australia/JAMES ELSBY
The Adelaide International 2024 has taken the city by storm with a record-breaking start, setting the stage for an action-packed tennis extravaganza. Tennis enthusiasts and families flocked to the newly expanded Vibe at The Drive precinct on Pinky Flat for Kids’ Day and the opening of the tournament. With more than 4,400 tickets sold for Kids’ Day alone, this year’s event has already outshone the previous year’s Family Day attendance.
This year, Adelaide’s festival of tennis has spread its wings, offering eventgoers an array of off-court entertainment options. The Pinky Flat precinct has transformed into a hub of excitement, featuring local musicians, tantalising food trucks, refreshing beverages, and much more.
The Adelaide International 2024, a combined WTA 500 and ATP 250 tournament, promises to be a fierce battleground where some of the world’s most talented tennis players will vie for a prestigious title and a total prize pool of $2.5 million, along with valuable world ranking points. The star-studded line-up includes the hometown hero and 2022 champion Thanasi Kokkinakis, world No.4 Elena Rybakina, world No.5 Jessica Pegula, and Australia’s own Alexei Popyrin.
Zoe Bettison, MP Minister for Tourism, expressed her delight at the start to the tournament, saying, the Adelaide International is off to a smashing start, with a record Kids’ Day attendance and an expanded footprint taking over Pinky Flat growing the festival of tennis.
“Today is not only about world-class tennis but about encouraging families to spend the day together with lots of free activities,” Bettison said.
“With plenty of action on and off the court, we want as many tennis fans and eventgoers to head to The Drive and get up close to some of the world’s best players right here in their own backyard.”
Bettison also emphasised the significance of such international sporting events for the city, stating, “The Adelaide International is another blockbuster on our state’s events calendar, bringing visitors into the city and showcasing our state-of-the-art facilities right around the world – with the Santos Tour Down Under set to continue this momentum later this week.”
Alicia Molik, Tournament Director of the Adelaide International, spoke of her connection to the tournament and her excitement for its return to Adelaide.
“Returning home to direct my first Adelaide International is really something special,” Molik said.
“I grew up in Adelaide, and I can’t remember how many trips to The Drive I took growing up.
“I am thrilled to know we have so many families coming out to The Drive today.
“With the Adelaide International, I’ve come full circle. It’s a real privilege to come back and be a part of this event.”
The tournament’s opening night promises to be a highlight as local favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis takes to Centre Court against Dusan Lajovic, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.
With world-class athletes, a festive atmosphere, and strong community support, Adelaide International 2024 continues to gather momentum, it solidifies its place as a marquee event in the global tennis calendar.
What: Adelaide International
Where: The Drive, War Memorial Drive, Adelaide
When: January 8 to January 13
Kids day: Monday January 8
More information: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/adelaideinternational
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