The Australian Open women's singles final has been overlooked, with ticket prices 7 to 8 times lower than the men's; Alcaraz discusses being the youngest to achieve a career Grand Slam.

With Alcaraz securing his place in the 2026 Australian Open men's singles final ahead of others, the ticket market has once again been stirred. Official ticket sales show that peak tickets for the men's final are nearing 2000 AUD (approximately 9300 RMB) and are sold out quickly. Meanwhile, regular tickets for the women's final are just 299 AUD, highlighting a nearly sevenfold price gap that has drawn extensive discussion.

The price disparity at this year's Australian Open is no coincidence. The men's final is played as best of five sets, with classic matches in recent years averaging over 3.5 hours; the women's final is best of three sets, with duration varying greatly—for example, last year's Wimbledon women's final lasted only about one hour.

The event operations director explained in an interview: "Ticket prices are based on a combination of historical data, audience expectations, and market supply and demand. Men's finals typically involve longer contests and more dramatic twists, which is reflected in broadcast rights value and commercial sponsorships."

Tennis data analytics firm "CourtVision" pointed out: "Over the past decade, average viewership ratings for Grand Slam men's finals have been about 42% higher than women's finals, with corresponding differences in advertising revenue. The ticket pricing system essentially reflects market behavior."

Some netizens commented, "The men's best-of-five format is essentially a different sport, testing stamina, tactical depth, and mental toughness. The ticket prices reflect the content's value. The fact that men's final tickets have been hard to get for years proves its appeal."

There are also critical voices suggesting that women's matches are equally exciting. For example, matches involving Swiatek and Gauff are full of technical intensity, and the large ticket price gap might send the wrong message. One user said, "We should focus more on 'match quality' rather than just duration; some recent women's finals have been as intense as men's."

Furthermore, with the Spanish star advancing to the final, new questions arose. When asked about becoming the youngest male player to complete a career Grand Slam if he wins, Alcaraz responded humorously to everything.

"Wow, thanks for putting so much pressure on me already!" he said with a smile, then sincerely added, "I'm very happy to have the chance to reach the final here for the first time. This has been a long-term goal... The support from the crowd reignites my fighting spirit, and every point feels more meaningful because of them."

If he wins, 20-year-old Alcaraz will surpass legends to become the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open).

At the time of writing, the match between Sinner and Djokovic is still ongoing, with both players in the deciding set, making the outcome uncertain. However, given Sinner’s current form and Djokovic’s dominance, Alcaraz is undoubtedly the top favorite to win this Australian Open! What do you think? Feel free to share your views in the comments!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)