Nick off from our tennis, Mr Reece

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 31, 2026

Brisbane and Melbourne city leaders are clashing over who should host the Olympic tennis events at the 2032 Brisbane Games, with Melbourne proposing to use its premier courts while Brisbane insists the matches will remain in its city. Brisbane is proceeding with a $7.1 billion upgrade to the Queensland Tennis Centre to solidify its status as the official venue and reinforce its position as Australia's leading sports destination.

Tensions have emerged between Brisbane and Melbourne over hosting Olympic tennis events at the 2032 Brisbane Games, with city leaders sparring over where the matches should be held.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece recently suggested that the Olympic tennis tournament be moved to Melbourne to take advantage of the city’s premier tennis facilities at Melbourne Park, which is home to the Australian Open. Reece argued that showcasing the sport on Melbourne’s esteemed courts, including Rod Laver, Margaret Court, and John Cain arenas, would highlight the nation’s best venues.

However, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner dismissed these remarks, warning Melbourne not to encroach on Brisbane’s staging of the Games. Schrinner pointed to Victoria’s failure to secure and host the Commonwealth Games as evidence that Melbourne was ill-equipped to take on the Olympic tennis event. He emphasized that Brisbane had already established itself as Australia’s leading sporting capital and touted the city’s favorable weather and lifestyle benefits as an advantage.

“Nick Reece is dreaming if he thinks Melbourne is pinching tennis from Brisbane in 2032,” Schrinner said. He added that even residents from Melbourne were relocating north, reinforcing Brisbane’s growing appeal.

The Queensland Tennis Centre, designated as the official venue for the Olympic tennis competition, is set to undergo significant upgrades ahead of the Games. The Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) will oversee a $7.1 billion venue improvement plan that includes constructing a new 3,000-seat show court and expanding the number of match courts to 12. GIICA has noted that these enhancements will bolster the centre’s international standing.

Schrinner insisted that the Olympic tennis tournament would remain in Brisbane, telling Reece to “put the racquet back in the bag and enjoy the Games from the grandstand.”

The dispute underscores broader regional rivalries in Australian sports hosting, with Brisbane positioning itself as the nation’s foremost event destination in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics. Meanwhile, Melbourne continues to emphasize its legacy as Australia's tennis hub, anchored by its long-standing role as host of the Australian Open.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.