Probably because it is held in the middle of summer.
From 2001-2010 it was played at the end of September, but in 2011 it will be played on the first week of October.
Technically the ATP season ends some time after the U.S. Open so it is the last Grand Slam Tournament played, but in the next season the Australian Open is the next Grand Slam tournament played after the US Open.
1934.
kansas
Athens, Greece.
The tournament ran from June 24 until July 8. It was the 36th Wimbledon Championships and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1912.
The last Australian winner was Adam Scott. He won the Masters Tournament in 2013. It was also the first time an Australian won the Masters.
The Australian Open is the first slam of the year, taking place in January.
The first Beanpot was played at Boston Arena, now Matthews Arena.
The first international chess tournament was played in 1851 and won by Adolph Anderssen. Prior to that there had been games between players from different countries, but that was the first tournament.
1939
The four major professional tennis tournaments consist of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. These four major tournaments are considered the "Grand Slam" tournaments. The Australian Open is the first of the four to be played each year, with the event occurring in the second half of January. The French Open is the second Grand Slam to be played, and it occurs around late-May to early June. Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year, takes place shortly after the French Open. It occurs from late June to early July. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam to take place each year. The only Grand Slam played on US soil, it takes place from late August to the first half of September.