MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open offered N.B.A.-style on-court seating for the first time this year, priced at an exorbitant-sounding 25,000 Australian dollars, or $18,900, for the men’s final for an up-close-and-personal experience.
But when the demand spiked after a Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal final was set, those seats might have qualified as a bargain. Fans dug deep into their bank accounts and traveled long distances to witness the improbable rematch between two great Grand Slam champions.