Tennis Australia said that the 5,000 public tickets which went on sale through Ticketek at noon had been snapped up by 12.25pm. TA had placed a limit of four per person on sales of the three-day only packages at A$325 (US$164/B183).
The remaining 10,000 seats in the Rod Laver Arena will be divided among state associations, supporter groups, the International Tennis Federation and the French association.
There are also 1,500 ground passes, costing A$20 (US$10.09/B11.2) each, for single days which are now selling steadily. Ground passes will allow people to watch the matches on a giant video screen. Ticket holders can also bring their racquets and use several outside courts free of charge.
The transportable grass court (pictured) being developed for the tie from November 30 to December 2 will be trucked to Melbourne from Seymour on November 12. The hybrid couch grass, called Legend, is a tough surface developed originally by the Melbourne Cricket Club for its wicket ten years ago.
It is faster than the grass courts of Wimbledon and the bounce is not expected to be too high.
