But a relatively new tradition at the tournament,Women and Girls Day,looks like it is here to stay as an important date on the Open calendar.
The event attracted big hitters in its first seven years,including formerAustralian prime minister and current Beyond Blue Chair Julia Gillard,Vogue US editorAnna Wintour,Hollywood starRebel Wilson,and tennis greats Kim Clijstersand Caroline Wozniacki.
Dynamic trio - Mary Coustas,Asher Keddie and Bruna Papandrea.Instagram
And so it was Piper French champagne and rosè all round at Federation Square’s Zinc on Thursday afternoon with no shortage of star power,includingBruna Papandrea,Hollywood producer ofGone Girl andBig Little Lies arrived,who picked up an AM in the Australia Day honours.
ActorAsher Keddie,aware she was in the presence of greatness,toldThe Age that,“I won’t bow to anyone but I’d curtsy to that queen”.
Virgin CEO and Tennis Australia chairJane Hrdlicka said she was emotional talking about the role the women played.
“This has laid the foundation for women around the world to say not good enough,” Hrdlicka said.
Sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins was on familiar ground;she got married at Zinc 18 years ago and while TA officials were scrupulously avoiding the great date debate,tennis greatEvonne Goolagong Cawley, had no intention of ignoring the elephant in the room.
“I would like to see our First Nations people included in our constitution,she told the crowd. “I had to say that on Australia Day.”
Saudi women’s rights activist,cyber security expert and author ofDaring to Drive,Manal al-Sharif,was also on hand to share her story with60 Minutes presenterTara Brown on hosting duties.
Elsewhere in the crowd was Melbourne Lord MayorSally Capp,more tennis greatsSam Stosur,Casey Dellacqua andRennae Stubbs,Judy Murray — accomplished coach and Mum and mentor to Andy Murray — comedianMary Koustas,ABC breakfast presenterLisa Miller and vocal duoVikaand Linda Bull all in the audience.
LAST POO-RAH
Seem like we’ve been seeing more ofMark Philippoussis this year than we’re used to,but that could just be those UberEats ads.
The PooAP
Offscreen,the Poo has teamed up with Cypriot heroMarcos Baghdatis -who has managed to acquire legendary status at the Open despite having reached the final just once,in 2006,and was soundly beaten byRoger Federer - for this year’s Men’s Legends’ Doubles comp.
Philippoussis,who is 46-years old,and Baghdatis,a mere whippernsapper at 37,were in action on Thursday on Margaret Court Arena where they managed to relive the golden days long enough to see off the pairing of former world number 2Tommy Haas and Czech stalwartRadek Stepanek.
But Philippoussis and Baghdatis shouldn’t get carried away. They’re up against the mighty Bryan twins —Bob andMike —in Friday’s final. The 43-year-old Americans are the tournament’s most prolific doubles champions with wins in 2006,2007,2009,2010 and 2011.
In the women’s legends,former World No.2Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland and Australian Open 2008 semi finalistDaniela Hantuchova from Slovakia rolled back the years on Thursday taking the title with a win over Croatia’s Iva Majoli and former world number 7Barbara Schett of Austria.
FOND FINALE
Staying with doubles,we look set for a tear-jerker on Friday for the Indian contingent at Melbourne Park as one of their nation’s leading tennis light ends her Open career.
Sania Mirza,who will retire later in the year,and on-court partnerRohan Bopannawill attempt to go out in a blaze of glory when they take on Brazilian pair Luisa Stefaniand Rafael Matosin the mixed doubles final.
Both Mirza and Bopanna have been standard-bearers for the sport on the subcontinent;she’s got five grand slams doubles titles,and he’s played men’s doubles semi-finals at the French Open,Wimbledon and even a US Open final back in 2010.
Mirza says she “feels the love” at Melbourne Park,having been welcomed by the city’s Indian diaspora time and again in the 18 years she has been coming here.
“I’m so emotional – I’m not a crier in front of people,but I’m almost there right now,” Mirza told the event’s official media on Thursday.
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