The Australian Open is blasted for snubbing Australia Day while holding gay pride events - as Lleyton Hewitt is drawn into the controversy

Aussie Grand Slam will not mark national holiday on January 26 It's the second year running the controversial day will be ignored Steve Price among commentators who are infuriated by the move 

The Australian Open has been slammed for once again refusing to stage an event to mark Australia Day as organisers try to sidestep conflict over the under-fire national holiday.

This year’s tournament has nothing organised to mark the history behind January 26, but is holding the AO Pride Day for the LGBTQ community on January 25 and the Glam Slam from the 26th to 28th, with an All Abilities day on January 23 and First Nations Day on the 17th.

It’s the second year running the Grand Slam has ignored the national holiday, choosing to celebrate the women’s game last year instead.

Commentators Steve Price and Joe Hildebrand have lashed out at the national day being omitted from the schedule – with the former dragging Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt into the controversy.

The Australian Open has always attracted plenty of patriotic fans (pictured this year) – but the tournament is doing nothing to mark the national day, just as it did in 2023

Tennis Australia has previously explained that it doesn’t mark the arrival of the First Fleet on January 26 because it’s ‘mindful there are differing views’

‘So we have a First Nations Day – no drama from me about that – then the organisers have set aside a day for Australian Open Pride Day, an Australian Open All Abilities Day and an Australian Open Glam Slam for the LGBTI+ folk that will run across January 26 to 28. You can’t make this stuff up,’ Price said on Sky News Australia.

He then lashed out at the tournament for its scheduling of Hewitt’s induction into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame – an event that usually sees greats of the game join the exclusive club on January 26.

‘This year it’s going to be Lleyton Hewitt – you couldn’t get a more Australian Australian than Lleyton Hewitt,’ Price continued.

‘They’ve changed the date of that event from Australia Day, when it used to be, to the 24th.

‘This is just crazy wokeness gone mad. Can anyone at Tennis Australia defend this disgraceful snubbing of our national day by a tournament that carries the name of our nation?’

Fellow commentator Joe Hildebrand added: ‘The idea that these sorts of ridiculous, virtue-signalling gestures are going to make any difference … is absolutely ridiculous.

Commentator Steve Price (pictured) branded the omission of the national day from this year’s schedule ‘crazy wokeness gone mad’

Price was astounded that the induction of Lleyton Hewitt (pictured at the Open this year) into the Tennis Australia Hall of Fame has been moved to January 24 when the ceremony is usually held on January 26

‘In fact, it puts people off even considering or wanting to address these issues.

‘this sort of stuff is what cost the Yes vote its victory [in the Voice to Parliament referendum].’

Radio star Tom Elliott joined in the criticism, telling his listeners on 3AW: ‘If you’re going to call yourself the Australian Open and it happens that our national day takes place during the tournament, you have to acknowledge Australia Day.

‘Maybe the date will change down the track, but right now it’s January 26.’

However, Elliott’s guest, University of Melbourne Associate Professor Dr. Lauren Rosewarne, said the Open is well within its rights to ignore the holiday, given its currently controversial nature.

Price’s fellow commentator Joe Hildebrand believes the tournament’s move will actually ‘put people off even considering or wanting to address these issues’

‘This is the consequence of open capitalism – businesses make decisions that they see are in their own best interests,’ she said.

When the tournament’s refusal to mark Australia Day came to light last year, Tennis Australia responded by saying: ‘We are mindful there are differing views, and at the Australian Open we are inclusive and respectful of all.

‘We acknowledge the historical significance and deep spiritual connection our First Peoples have to this land, and recognise this with a Welcome to Country on stadium screens prior to both the day and night session daily.’

The Open’s continued refusal to mark January 26 comes as the national day remains highly divisive.

More than 80 councils across the country have opted not to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 this year, with Woolworths announcing it will not be stocking Australia Day merchandise – leading to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton calling for a boycott of the business.