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In the 1970s, many top players did not even bother showing up for the Australian Open. The country was too remote, the prize money too low, the facilities erratic as the event moved from city to city, and it was held over the Christmas holidays.
The tournament moved to mid-January in 1987 and found its groove. Yet there is still a lingering sense that the Open could be a little better if only it started a few weeks later.
Some players feel jumping almost immediately into a Grand Slam after the brief off-season yields less than stellar tennis.