Australian Open Organizers Unveil 7,500-Seat Margaret Court Arena At Melbourne Park

Australian Open organizers are "confident they have weather-proofed the first tennis major of the season," according to the AP. On Tuesday, "they unveiled the third stadium with a retractable roof at Melbourne Park." The 7,500-seat Margaret Court Arena was "officially opened Tuesday, on the site of the previous show court next to Rod Laver Arena." The new roof makes Melbourne Park the "first Grand Slam venue with three courts that can be covered in the event of rain or extreme heat -- important in a continent of scorching droughts and flooding rains." The temperature topped 40 degrees Celsius (104F) for "four straight days in the past year's tournament." In the past, "heavy rain has also caused lengthy delays in the match schedule." Tennis Australia President Steve Healy said, "We have an incredible, new tennis facility." Organizers said that the retractable roof on the MCA can "open in less than five minutes" (AP, 10/7).