Ananova:

The men's singles final at the Australian Open will be played at night from 2005 after organisers struck a new television deal with local broadcasters.

Both men's semi-finals are already played at night and have proved ratings winners.

Starting at the 2005 centenary Australian Open, the men's singles will begin at 7.30pm (8.30am GMT) in what tournament organiser Paul McNamee described as an "historic first for a Grand Slam."

The timing will also make the matches more accessible to a European audience.

The US Open women's final is the only other major final played in the evening.

"Today will certainly see the last final, Safin and Federer, in the day," said McNamee.

"We have done a few breaks with tradition over the years, haven't we, including the roof which was criticised originally.

"Now of course it's being used by other Grand Slams, or intended to be, such as Wimbledon.

"The key is lining up the semi-finals and the final. We think that with both semi-finals being at 7.30 and being received so well by the players, the feedback from the ATP has been very supportive."

McNamee described the move as a "step forward for the tournament" and said the decision had been made jointly between the organisers and Channel Seven, broadcasters of the tournament since 1973 who have signed on for a further five years.

"Seven have always had an interest in it and we have always had an interest in it," he said.

"The question for tennis was whether it was going to be strong enough to carry prime time and I think what we have demonstrated over the last five years, with the possible exception of two years ago when we struggled, is that the tennis product has been able to hold itself in prime time.

"If we had not been able to get the ratings we have had the last few years, to be honest, this would not have been an option. Business is business.

"It is a dream for any sport to have their product in prime time and tennis is no exception. It is big news for us. No other grand slam has done it so far on the men's side. It's a big step forward for us."

McNamee said the women's final would remain in its current slot on Saturday afternoon.

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