The Australian Open has served up a subdued start, with an attendance cap, drab weather and no school holidays making for an unusually quiet Melbourne Park
On a cloudy summer day in which the mercury didn't rise above 20C, the grand slam opened on Monday to largely empty stands and a noticeable lack of day-one hustle and bustle.
Daily crowds are capped at 30,000 over the tournament's first eight days but even at about half capacity, American champion Serena Williams was watched by fewer than 1000 spectators on Rod Laver Arena.
Garden Square was almost deserted and some outside courts, normally teeming with ground-pass ticketed fans, were playing before crowds in the tens rather than hundreds.
Those on-site remarked about the extra room, with the precinct divided into three separate zones around Rod Laver, Margaret Court and John Cain arenas
"It's much more quiet," said Melbourne-based Swede Joachim Berg, who has been coming to the Open since 2004.
"It's kind of nice."
His friend Patrick Rehm, also dressed head to toe in Sweden's unmistakable yellow and blue, said it was a blast from the past.
"It's like you're back in the 90s," he said near the ringed grass area outside Margaret Court Arena ahead of watching compatriot Rebecca Peterson's first-round clash.
"Back in the day, you could actually move around. Lately, it's been too much. It felt like they were cramming in people to make profits. It wasn't the same.
"Now for once, you feel relaxed. You can line up, grab some food, grab a beer, just not panic. I love it."
Stands were empty but for a handful of fans on court 12 during the first set of Hungarian Timea Babos' victory over unseeded Belgian Ysaline Bonaventure.
Further along, a crowd of roughly 50 people tried to socially distance while watching world No.2 Rafael Nadal practise before his opening match on Tuesday.
Leongatha woman Suzanne Suzette comes to the Open most years and has "never seen it so quiet".
"I'm so glad it's on because I think Melbourne needs this," she told AAP.
"I just wish there were more people here."
Ms Suzette said she had found it difficult to buy tickets this year as Ticketmaster's physical stores were closed.
"This is probably a reason why a lot of people haven't come," she said.
"I wasn't the only one that's had trouble getting my tickets online."
Another potential reason for the sluggish start is the tournament has been pushed back three weeks this year, no longer falling in school holidays.
Earlier, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley was urged people to come along, noting a reserved seat at one of the three main courts was the price of last year's ground pass.
Tennis Australia has yet to provide Monday's total crowd figure.
Outside court three, where QR codes adorned entrances along with hand-sanitiser stations, a woman wearing an Australian flag mask said fans were still attempting to make up for the lack of atmosphere.
"They are trying to start the Mexican Wave and things in there to get it going," she said.
