It really pays to be a media commentator at the Australian Open – just ask former Australian champion Jelena Dokic.
Dokic and fellow Aussie great Alicia Molik have shared a sneak peek at the underground bunker they use to call matches.
The view has to be seen to be believed, but it’s one the average tennis fan will never get the chance to access.
‘Somehow we don’t run out of tennis talk,’ Molik posted with a picture with Dokic and a series of prayer-hand emojis to signify gratitude.
The commentary bunker at the Australian Open is a court-level broadcast position built directly into the stadium infrastructure.
Unlike boxes high in the grandstands, it sits only metres from the playing surface, placing commentators almost eye-to-eye with the athletes.
Former Australian tennis champions Jelena Dokic and Alicia Molik share an inside look at the Rod Laver Arena commentator bunker
Many of the cameras are located in the bunker as well, getting the best possible vision for tennis fans around the world
Major broadcasters like Channel Nine get to use the highly advanced facilities that put them almost face to face with the athletes
From this position, commentators can see players’ footwork, grip changes, ball toss height and subtle movement patterns that are invisible from the crowd.
Facial expressions, verbal exchanges, frustration, confidence shifts and physical discomfort are all clearly visible in real time.
Former champions such as Jelena Dokic and Alicia Molik have shown how this vantage point offers the sharpest read on momentum swings.
The bunker lighting is intentionally dimmed during points so it does not distract players, creating a low-glare, tunnel-like environment.
Inside, commentators work from multiple live monitors showing camera feeds, slow-motion replays, player data and graphics feeds.
They also have uninterrupted audio of the match, including ball contact, line calls and player communication.
Direct talkback links connect the bunker to producers and directors in the control room, allowing instant decisions on replays and storylines.
The position allows commentators to observe warm-ups, between-point routines and medical treatment up close.
Channel Nine’s Peter ‘Salty’ Psaltis commentates in the bunker with tennis great John McEnroe
Commentators have access to replays, statistics and all of the information and vision they need to deliver high standards, quickly
During stadium changeovers, custom LED panels are installed around the bunker so it blends seamlessly into the court layout.
A reinforced inner guard protects broadcast equipment and personnel from errant shots during play.
But the underground bunker for media commentary is just the beginning.
Beneath Rod Laver Arena sits a hidden underground network normally reserved for players, officials, and select guests.
This below-ground zone includes secure player corridors linking warm-up rooms, locker areas, and treatment spaces directly to the court.
There is a controlled ‘Walk of Champions’ passage lined with tributes to past winners, used by players and escorted VIPs on match days.
Tucked underneath the stadium are ultra-exclusive, court-access hospitality routes that allow a small number of guests to step onto the playing surface itself.
The area also houses premium dining rooms built specifically for the tournament, including chef-led restaurants that operate entirely out of public view.
These underground spaces are designed to keep players and officials separated from crowds while moving efficiently around the arena.
Broadcast and operational infrastructure is hidden below, allowing live television and radio coverage to run without visible cables or equipment courtside.
Secure transport access points allow players and VIPs to arrive and depart without passing through public entrances.
Parts of the underground level also connect to elevated walkways and terraces elsewhere in Melbourne Park, creating controlled movement flows.
Together, the subterranean spaces form a private working city beneath the noise and spectacle of the Australian Open that most fans never see.
