What was Melbourne Park called when it first hosted the Australian Open in 1988?

When it first hosted the Australian Open in 1988, Melbourne Park was called Flinders Park.

Flinders Park was a newly developed tennis precinct beside Melbourne’s Jolimont railway yards. Its first Australian Open was held from 11 to 24 January 1988, replacing Kooyong as the tournament’s Melbourne home. The new complex was designed to handle larger crowds and the modern demands of a Grand Slam.

The venue’s opening also marked a major sporting transition. The Australian Open moved from grass to hard courts, using the Rebound Ace surface, and the tournament expanded to 128-player singles draws. The 1988 women’s final also became the first Grand Slam final played indoors under a closed roof after rain interrupted play.

The name changed from Flinders Park to Melbourne Park in 1996. That renaming is why historical references can seem contradictory: Flinders Park and Melbourne Park refer to the same precinct at different points in its history, not two separate Australian Open sites.