<p class="title">Basketball is heading to the Australian Open tennis for the first time, with a top-level game to be played at one of the stadiums during the opening Grand Slam of the year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">National Basketball League teams Melbourne United and the Cairns Taipans will face each other next month at Hisense Arena within the Melbourne Park tennis facility, organisers said Wednesday, in a bid to draw new fans to the sport.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Spectators with Australian Open tickets will be able to attend both the tennis and the basketball, which will see the venue converted for the occasion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is a unique opportunity to showcase two of the world's biggest sports in one location on one day and our fans are the big winners," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The basketball clash, known as the AO Game, will take place at night in the second week of the Grand Slam, when there are fewer evening tennis matches.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are expecting the AO Game to be a sell-out so we urge fans to get their tickets quickly and come along and enjoy a great day at the tennis, followed by a night at the basketball," said NBL chief Jeremy Loeliger.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Australian Open runs from January 15-28 with the Melbourne-Cairns showdown on the 24th.</p>
<p class="title">Basketball is heading to the Australian Open tennis for the first time, with a top-level game to be played at one of the stadiums during the opening Grand Slam of the year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">National Basketball League teams Melbourne United and the Cairns Taipans will face each other next month at Hisense Arena within the Melbourne Park tennis facility, organisers said Wednesday, in a bid to draw new fans to the sport.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Spectators with Australian Open tickets will be able to attend both the tennis and the basketball, which will see the venue converted for the occasion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is a unique opportunity to showcase two of the world's biggest sports in one location on one day and our fans are the big winners," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The basketball clash, known as the AO Game, will take place at night in the second week of the Grand Slam, when there are fewer evening tennis matches.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are expecting the AO Game to be a sell-out so we urge fans to get their tickets quickly and come along and enjoy a great day at the tennis, followed by a night at the basketball," said NBL chief Jeremy Loeliger.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Australian Open runs from January 15-28 with the Melbourne-Cairns showdown on the 24th.</p>