Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a star player at the Australian Open, has raised concerns over the tournament’s “party court” concept after facing harassment from unruly fans during her second-round match against Paula Badosa on Court 6. The 32-year-old player expressed her displeasure with the noisy atmosphere generated by fans at the two-story bar adjacent to the court.
Pavlyuchenkova reported that disruptive behavior from fans, including screaming and “meowing,” affected her concentration during the match. The Courtside Bar, with a capacity of over 400 people, allows fans to freely move around, creating a lively yet distracting environment for players.
While tournament director Craig Tiley had envisioned Court 6 as the “party court” and expressed plans to expand the concept, Pavlyuchenkova’s experience has led her to question the suitability of such an atmosphere for professional tennis. Her opponent, Paula Badosa, also echoed concerns about the noise levels, emphasizing the difficulty in concentrating and communicating with her team during matches on this court.
The controversy surrounding the “party court” raises questions about the balance between creating an engaging fan experience and maintaining the focused and quiet environment traditionally associated with tennis matches. As players voice their discomfort, the future of this concept at the Australian Open remains uncertain.
At Australian Open The Courtside Bar has a capacity of more than 400 people and features bar-style seating that overlooks the court. In October, Tournament Director Craig Tiley expressed the anticipation that this court would soon be recognized as the ‘party court,’ indicating a desire to extend this model to other areas of the site in the future.
