Melbourne has proposed hosting the tennis competition at the 2032 Olympic Games, suggesting that the event could be moved from the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane to Melbourne Park, the home of the Australian Open. However, Queensland authorities quickly rejected the idea and confirmed that they intend to keep the competition in Brisbane.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece supported the proposal, saying that Melbourne Park has some of the world’s best tennis facilities, including Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena. He believes moving the competition to Melbourne could increase attendance and allow more fans to watch the world’s top tennis players.
Reece also said Melbourne would be willing to support Brisbane in hosting the Games and compared the idea to other major sporting events that have been held across multiple cities.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner strongly rejected the proposal, saying Melbourne would not be taking tennis away from Brisbane. He pointed to Brisbane’s plans for the Games and criticised Victoria for its decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also opposed the proposal and defended the investment being made in Brisbane’s sporting infrastructure.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley took a more balanced approach. While he suggested Melbourne Park could potentially host Olympic-related activities, he fully supported keeping the tennis competition at the Queensland Tennis Centre and said the Brisbane Games could be a great opportunity for Australian tennis.
The Queensland Tennis Centre is also planned to undergo major improvements. The redevelopment includes a new 3,000-seat show court and up to 12 additional match courts. The project is part of the wider AU$7.1 billion investment in Olympic venues and is intended to improve the centre’s international facilities and support Australia’s National Tennis Academy.
There have also been discussions about involving other Melbourne sporting venues in the Games. Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox said the Melbourne Cricket Ground and surrounding sporting precinct would be willing to support Olympic activities if asked.
For now, Queensland remains committed to hosting Olympic tennis in Brisbane, while Melbourne’s proposal has not received a formal request or approval. The debate highlights ongoing discussions about how sporting events and facilities could be shared between Australian states during the 2032 Olympic Games.
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