- The tennis legend says he will watch it from home
- He has previously been a fixture in the final.
The presence of tennis legend Rod Laver at the 2025 Australian Open final will be missed by the Australian tennis community and fans around the world.
Laver, 86, is in good health but has decided not to travel to Australia from his home in California to watch the men's and women's singles titles played on the court that bears his name.
“The only player in history to complete two Grand Slam sweeps in one calendar year made the announcement via his social media channels,” he wrote.
'What an incredible year for tennis it has been! The new season in Australia is here. Unfortunately I will not be able to compete in the first Grand Slam of the year.
“While I am disappointed not to be able to attend the Australian Open and interact with tennis fans in Melbourne, I will be watching the tournament from home and cheering on the players as they battle for glory.
'I hope you can all come to Melbourne Park for a wonderful summer of tennis!'
Tennis legend Rod Laver will not attend the 2025 Australian Open final
Laver says he will watch this year's final from his home in California
It is the first time in a decade that the eleven-time Slam champion will not attend the Open, but spirits in the 'happy slam' remain high as the tournament moves closer to the final.
Australian Alex de Minaur has kept his dream alive by reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time.
Looking to end a 49-year drought since Australia celebrated a home-grown men's winner, de Minaur cruised to a convincing 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over emerging American Alex Michelsen on Monday the night.
The victory sets up a blockbuster clash on Wednesday night with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
'It means the world. “There is nothing I want to do more than play well in Australia,” said the 25-year-old.
“I'm very happy to finally achieve that milestone here at the Australian Open.
“It felt like the slam kept slipping away where I felt like I had a little bit of a barrier in the fourth round, so it feels really good to finally get over another milestone in my career.
Alex de Minaur reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open for the first time
“I've worked very hard on myself to give myself these chances and opportunities, and it hasn't happened overnight, it's been a long process, but I'm glad to be showing this consistency, and it's a good feeling “We have four quarters of consecutive finals in Slams”.
As well as the opportunity to reach his first semi-final at Melbourne Park on his ninth appearance, the victory marked several milestones in his career.
De Minaur is the first local to reach the quarterfinals since Nick Kyrgios in 2015 and the first Australian to reach four consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals since Lleyton Hewitt made it all the way to the 2005 Australian Open title match.
But a giant challenge looms in the form of defending champion Sinner, whom De Minaur has not beaten in nine attempts and has not even taken a set since 2020.
An ailing Sinner beat Denmark's Holger Rune in four sets in their fourth-round clash earlier in the day.
“I'm looking forward to it, obviously,” said the world number 8 from Australia.
“It's going to be an incredibly difficult match and I'm going to have to do something I haven't done before.” But why not start here?