Record-breaking crowds have flocked to the Australian Open this year, with attendance figures on Saturday the biggest recorded at a grand-slam event anywhere in the world.

Ground pass tickets to the first Saturday of the tournament sold out the night before the event, the first year tennis fans could not turn up on the day and gain entry to Melbourne Park.

An Australian Open spokeswoman said 80,649 people descended on Melbourne Park for Saturday's day and night sessions, which included appearances from Lleyton Hewitt and Serena Williams on Rod Laver Arena.

This smashed the previous record of 77,121 at last year's Open, and was the biggest attendance so far recorded on any day of a grand slam event.

Some tennis fans complained that huge crowds resulted in long queues to access the outside courts, with some waiting hours to get seats.

Queues for for the toilets, alcohol and food stands were also long.

The spokeswoman said it was the first time in the history of the Open that ground passes weren't available for purchase on the first Saturday of the tournament.

"We did let people know that there were no tickets left for Saturday, except for some to Hisense Arena for the night session," she said.

"We also said that as people left throughout the day, some might become available."