The new Queensland Tennis Centre on the banks of the Brisbane River in Tennyson, Queensland, Australia has now opened.

The AUD$82m (£38.2m, US$54.3m, 41.7m euro) facility - which received funding from the Queensland State Government, the Mirvac Group, Tennis Australia and Tennis Queensland - boasts a 5,500 seat international-standard centre court with 20 corporate suites; 23 International Tennis Federation-standard courts including clay, grass and cushion acrylic surfaces; a Pro shop; café; changing rooms; meeting and function rooms; and administrative offices for Tennis Queensland. The centre was officially opened on 2 January by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh alongside Australian tennis legends Pat Rafter and Ashley Cooper.

"This is a significant day for all Queenslanders, but especially for the tennis fans and players, as the opening of this magnificent tennis centre will revitalise the sport in this state," said Bligh. "This is the first tennis facility in Australia to feature three Grand Slam surfaces, which will enable our budding young Queensland players to acquire a broader range of skills to suit the different tournament surfaces used throughout the world.

"It will give our players a distinct advantage over those in other states and we might soon see a new crop of Queenslanders dominating on the clay at the French Open, on grass at Wimbledon or on the hard courts of the US and Australian Open tournaments." Minister for Sport Judy Spence added: "All the courts will be available for hire which will no doubt encourage many to pick up a racquet, maybe for the first time, and get out of the house to have a hit. A total 23 International standard courts comprising 17 plexicusion hard-court, four clay and two grass courts will be available for public and tournament use.

"The centre will play a vital role in achieving the Bligh Government's Q2 target to make Queenslanders Australia's healthiest people. Since January 2007 this Government has provided more than AUD$10.2m to support tennis related projects throughout the State." The Queensland Tennis Centre was designed by HOK Sport and Venues and The Mirvac Group's in-house architectural practice, HPA Pty Ltd. It is managed by Tennis Queensland and operated by UQ SPORT.

Tennis Queensland CEO Tom Larner said: "The Queensland Tennis Centre is a fantastic facility and we are looking forward to developing our players and promoting the game from our new riverside home at Tennyson. "It's a facility that will really change tennis in Queensland and one that is sure to be popular with tennis fans."

Head coach Derek Burden, a former Australian World Junior Tennis team coach and manager, said the Queensland Tennis Centre was a place the whole community could enjoy. “QTC is open to everyone, from the four-year-old getting their first taste of tennis in the Aussie Mozzie squad to social fixture players and elite squad and tournament players," he said.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the whole Brisbane community to play where the professionals play and have access to arguably the best tennis facility in Australia.”