Melbourne will once again serve up the biggest names in world tennis when it hosts the 2017 Australian Open this month.

Acting Minister for Sport Philip Dalidakis today joined Craig Tiley, CEO and Australian Open Tournament Director, Tennis Australia, to officially kick start the final countdown to the 2017 Grand Slam.

The Australian Open is the largest annual event in the southern hemisphere and features some of the world’s best and home grown tennis stars such as Andy Murray, Nick Kyrgios, Angelique Kerber and Sam Stosur.

From Monday 16 January, the event will showcase the best of Melbourne – major events, sport, food and entertainment.

The Australian Open Festival at Birrarung Marr will provide family-friendly entertainment, including the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots where kids will have the chance to hone their skills.

The new Tanderrum Bridge is open to safely usher thousands of fans to the action at Melbourne Park.

The pedestrian bridge is the centre piece of the Andrews Labor Government’s $338 million Melbourne Park stage two redevelopment.

Other improvements include a new Eastern entrance, the Rod Laver Arena refurbishment, a new administration and media building, a more efficient loading bay, better equipment rigging facilities, retractable seating and more food options.

Bumper crowds are again predicted for the 2017 Australian Open, and millions will tune in across the globe to one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

Last year a record 720,362 fans poured through the gates, with 900 million more tuning into Melbourne on television broadcasts.

The 2017 event is expected to keep hotels and restaurants busy, providing a significant boost to the local economy, jobs and the tourism industry.

The Australian Open grand slam is the perfect way to kick start Melbourne’s packed calendar of sporting and major events for 2017.

We’re building a bigger and better Melbourne Park to make sure the Australian Open stays in Melbourne and continues to go from strength to strength.

It’s just one of the many reasons why we’re one of the top sporting destinations in the world.