Melbourne: The Australian Open women's final will be played at night next year for the first time in the tournament's 104 year history, organisers said today.

While the women's final at the season-opening Grand Slam is traditionally played in the afternoon, tournament director Craig Tiley said shifting the men's final to night-time in 2005 had proved successful.

He said organisers had the support of the Women's Tennis Association and reigning Open champion Maria Sharapova for moving the women's decider to a later timeslot.

"We have been thinking about a night final for the women ever since the men's night final proved such an outstanding success," Tiley said.

"Imagine Sharapova defending her title against (Ana) Ivanovic or one of the Williams sisters before a packed house at Rod Laver Arena on a balmy Saturday night in January. It will be the most sought after ticket in town," he added.

The move is expected to lift the event's television audience but scheduling at the Open has already come under fire in recent years for the increasing number of matches ending late in the night.

One match between Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis at this year's event did not finish until after 4.30 am.

Sharapova, who has previously complained about the rigours of playing in the Melbourne heat, welcomed the move.

"The atmosphere at Melbourne Park at night is great and the cooler conditions allow the players to really produce their best," Sharapova said in a statement.

 

Source : PTI