Andrew Abdo named Australian Open tournament director

Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo has been confirmed as the new Australian Open tournament director. During the 2027 Australian Open launch, Abdo outlined plans to expand the tournament's footprint by 45 per cent and increase seating at Court 6 by 17 per cent. The proposed program includes the AO Ballpark for gaming and entertainment, the Grand Slam Oval for player appearances, and a million-dollar practice session featuring top players.

Abdo, who previously served as a Rugby League CEO, expressed a commitment to producing more Australian champions and increasing fan access to world-class players. However, his introduction to the tennis community faced criticism following verbal errors during his speech. Abdo mispronounced the names of tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Elena Rybakina, drawing social media scrutiny and reactions from figures such as tennis legend Boris Becker.