The establishment of theBrisbane International in 2009 saw the city ofAdelaide miss out on continuing to host an ATP or WTA lead-up event to the Australian Open. Over the next ten years Adelaide hosted theWorld Tennis Challenge, an exhibition event played featuring past players. The unveiling of the multi-cityATP Cup competition, held around the same time, resulted in the abolition of theHopman Cup and the condensing of other tournaments, thereby allowing sufficient room in the calendar for the Adelaide International.[2] In February 2019, theSouth Australian Government announced it would invest $10 million to construct a canopy-roof structure over theMemorial Drive Tennis Centre, after securing a five-year deal withTennis Australia to host the new event at the upgraded facility.[3] The new tournament was announced later that year, with then-world number four and two-time Grand-Slam championSimona Halep being confirmed as the first player to play in the 2020 Adelaide International.[4] The new international tournament was a combinedWTA Premier andATP 250 event.[5]
In 2021, a WTA-only tournament was held after the Australian Open, from February 22–27.
In 2022, there were two back-to-back Adelaide Internationals from January 1st to January 14th. The events were combined ATP 250 and WTA 250 tournaments with Gaël Monfils and Ashleigh Barty winning the men's and women's singles in the first tournament, and Thanasi Kokkinakis and Madison Keys winning the men's and women's singles in the second tournament.[6]