In 2000, Melbourne Park’s Centre Court was renamed Rod Laver Arena to honor Australian tennis great Rod Laver.
The venue opened for the 1988 Australian Open as the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, replacing Kooyong Stadium as the tournament’s main home. It became known as Centre Court in 1996, but that name lasted only until January 2000. On 16 January 2000, it officially took Laver’s name.
Rod Laver was one of tennis’s defining champions. He won the Australian Open three times and remains the only player to complete two calendar-year Grand Slams, achieving the feat in 1962 and again in 1969. Naming Melbourne Park’s central arena after him recognized both his achievements and his importance to Australian tennis.
The arena is often confused with Margaret Court Arena, another Melbourne Park venue named for an Australian champion. Laver’s arena is the principal Australian Open stadium, with a retractable roof and a capacity of about 14,820 for tennis.