These days the Australian Open sits alongside the other Grand Slam tournaments as one of the best and most prestigious tennis events in the world, but it wasn’t always that way. In this episode, we tell the story of its transformative move from Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club to Flinders Park in 1988.

Pat Cash, who lost back-to-back five-set finals in 1987 and 1988 talks us through it all, including what Kooyong was like as a venue, why his 1987 defeat to Stefan Edberg feels like the one that got away in his career, why a move to the new site was both necessary and a roaring success, the effect of the new surface known as Rebound Ace, and the epic back and forth he had with Mats Wilander in the classic 1988 final. 

We also hear from Pam Shriver - who won the women’s doubles title with Martina Navratilova in both years - about her experience. 

The Tennis Podcast is presented by Catherine Whitaker and David Law, and features Matt Roberts. It is produced weekly year-round, and daily during the Grand Slam tournaments.

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