Shaded Seats at Margaret Court Arena

Margaret Court Arena, situated within Melbourne Park, is the second-largest venue​ at the Australian Open and is cherished by tennis enthusiasts. The AO occurs in January, right in the middle of Melbourne’s hot summer and sun protection essential. Fans hoping to stay cool should use this guide to find the best shaded seats at Margaret Court Arena.

Where are the seats in the shade at Margaret Court Arena?

The seats in the shade at Margaret Court Arena are typically found in:

• Baseline, North Side: Shaded all day
• Baseline, South Side: Shaded, with the possible exception of the first few rows
• Sideline, West Side: Shaded after 3:30 PM

Margaret Court Arena was previously an open-air venue, but heat waves during Melbourne’s brutally hot summers prompted the Victorian Government to redevelop the stadium in 2014. Margaret Court Arena now features a fully retractable roof that can be opened and closed to better control the climate on the court and in the stands. That said, for fans planning ahead should always best to assume the roof will be open with the sun shining through.

Margaret Court Arena Orientation to the Sun

All tennis show courts at Melbourne Park are oriented in a slightly off-axis north to south direction. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the northeast section of stands. Over the course of the afternoon, the sun dips down along the west side of the stadium and sets behind to the southwest corner.

The graphic below shows the approximate hour-by-hour position of the sun during the Australian Open.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for an upcoming AO session

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Margaret Court Arena Matches

The retractable roof at Margaret Court Arena is useful not only to protect the court on a rainy day but to provide a substantial amount of shade that didn’t exist prior to the 2014 redevelopment when it was a completely outdoor venue.

If you’re attending the first match of the day at 11:00 or 11:30 AM, the sun will be near its highest point in the sky, and seats directly below the roof behind both baselines will be shaded. You can also mostly count on the upper-level sections 20-41 to provide shade as they are directly under the non-retractable part of the roof.

If you choose to sit closer to the action, your best bet early in the day is behind the north baseline, in sections 1, 2, or 19. Behind the south baseline, sections 9, 10, and 11 is a good bet for shade. However, the north side is a better bet as the sun will rotate behind the arena and protect north baseline sections from the sun all afternoon, while a small number of seats behind the south baseline, particularly those in the first couple of rows, can get a splash of sun as it crosses the sky.

Sideline sections on both sides of the arena experience direct sun during the first match of the day, but seats on the west sideline will move into the shade for matches later in the afternoon. The hottest and most sun-soaked sections are 4-7. Fans should bring strong sunscreen and sun protection if they choose to sit here! On the opposite side, sections 13-17 will be in the sun early in the day but by by around 3:30 PM they will be entirely in the shade as as the sun dips behind the west side of the arena.

Around 2:00 in the afternoon seats on both sidelines are in the sun while seats behind the baselines stay cool in the shade.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Margaret Court Arena Matches

Tennis fans attending an evening session will have a much easier time finding shade. However, just because the Australian Open calls these “night” sessions doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about the sun! The key for shade is to focus on the baselines and the western half of the arena. Sections 1 and 10-19 will be in the shade as the sun begins to set. Any seat here is a fine choice if you want to enjoy some tennis action without worrying about the sun.

The sunniest sections are sideline sections 4-7. Fans who choose seats here should bring their best sunglasses as the sun will set directly into their eyes. Be careful as well with sections 24-26. Even if the roof directly above provides some sun protection, you might find yourself staring directly into the sun during the sunset match.

By 3:30 in the afternoon, when shade has reached the court, seats behind the baselines and on the west sideline will be comfortably in the shade. Seats on the east sideline stay sunny the longest.
Victor Joly / Alamy Stock Photo

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Use the individual session links or click or tap here to see the upcoming sessions at this year’s Australian Open.

AO Shade Guides

If you’re heading to Melbourne Park for this year’s Australian Open, we’ve created shade guides for all major venues. Reserved-seat stadiums include Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena. For general admission, we’ve covered Kia Arena, 1573 Arena, and ANZ Arena. Additionally, there’s a dedicated shade guide for John Cain Arena, which features a mix of reserved seating and general admission areas.