The
Australian Open is a major
tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January in
Melbourne, Australia. First held in 1905, the tournament is chronologically the first of the four
Grand Slam tennis events of the year – the other three being the
French Open,
Wimbledon and the
US Open. It features men's and women's singles; men's, women's and mixed doubles and junior's championships; as well as wheelchair, legends and exhibition events. Prior to 1988 the tournament had been played on grass. Since 1988 two types of
hardcourt surfaces have been used at
Melbourne Park – green
Rebound Ace to 2007 and blue
Plexicushion from 2008.