What surface is the Australian Open played on?

The Australian Open is played on hard court. Its competition courts use a cushioned acrylic hard-court system, with GreenSet used since 2020. The surface is designed to provide a consistent bounce and medium pace for the tournament's elite players.

That has not always been the Australian Open's surface. The event was originally played on grass, as were many major tennis tournaments during the sport's earlier history. In 1988, the championship moved from Kooyong to the newly developed Melbourne Park complex, and the playing surface changed from grass to hard court at the same time.

Several hard-court systems have been used since the move. Rebound Ace was in place from 1988 through 2007, followed by Plexicushion from 2008 through 2019. GreenSet became the official surface in 2020. A common mix-up is assuming that every court at Melbourne Park has the same surface: the venue has practice clay courts, but Australian Open tournament matches are played on hard courts. The tournament's hard surface is one reason it is grouped with the US Open as a hard-court Grand Slam.