The absence of the injuredAjla Tomljanovic andDaria “Dasha” Saville,as well as the retirement last year of reigning Open championAsh Barty,left just five Australian starters in the main women’s draw for the event.
Some of the high-profile players who won’t be playing at this year’s Australian Open.Getty Images,AP,Tennis Australia
The withdrawal of two-time champion,Japanese superstarNaomi Osaka early this month didn’t help either,but Tiley – who later in the day had to cope with news of the withdrawal ofNick Kyrgios – reckons he sees the bright side,tipping a tournament for the underdog.
“Missing Ajla and Dasha is not ideal – they’re injured – and of course Ash is retiring,the Tennis Australia chief executive said. “But just behind them,there’s a large group of young players. So we may see a breakthrough,but it’s too early to see a significant breakthrough,[but] the potential for upsets,yes.
“Going all the way to win the Australian Open,you’ve got to play seven great matches and if we look at[it] historically,no one has had an easy journey in those seven matches.
“I think that’s going to be the story of this event.Martina Hingis,no one knew who she was before she won the Australian Open,so I think on the women’s side,and potentially on the men’s side,the story of these next two weeks is the potential for some of the younger players to make a breakthrough.”
That’s the spirit,Craig.
REQUIRED VIEWING
Right beside Tiley at the “presentation of the cup” press conference was the state Labor government’s Sports MinisterSteve Dimopoulos,who was talking a big game about the tournament’s value to the local economy and laying claim to a captive global audience.
“The unquantifiable value,I reckon,is the hundreds of millions of eyeballs on screens – video,computer screens,iPhones,watching this event for 2½ weeks,” the minister insisted.
“They get,whether they like it or not,brand Melbourne and brand Victoria being advertised.”
Don’t worry,Steve,we’re sure they’ll love it.
GIDDY-UP
Staying with state sports ministers,expect Dimopoulos’ predecessor,Martin Pakula to be a familiar sight in the stands at the Open,beginning on Tuesday evening when the former frontbencher likes the look of the first round matches for Serbia’sNovak Djokovicand Tunisia’sOns Jabeur.
Pakula’s life after politics – he announced his retirement from parliament in June last year – is starting to take a more defined shape too.
The racing tragic,who also served as attorney-general and tourism minister during a lengthy parliamentary career and is now a non-executive director at travel company Helloworld,quietly dusted off his old legal practising certificate last month and,we’re reliably informed,enrolled in a short course in the coming months to brush up on his sports law skills.
Nick Kyrgios pops around Melbourne on a scooter on Sunday.AAP
So,it looks like Pakula’s career is off to the races again.
A LID-EL TROUBLE
The first day of the Open was a tough one for another one of its major drawcards,Australian bad boyNick Kyrgios,who not only broke down while from the comp with a knee injury,but is facing awkward questions from the local constabulary over a photo that shot around the internet featuring the player riding an e-scooter through Melbourne on Sunday with a female passenger,neither of them wearing a helmet.
Victoria Police chief commissionerShane Patton said his people would be having a word with Kyrgios after someone reported the potential offence,which carries a $230 fine for both the driver and passenger with a $185 top-up for the aggravating factor of carrying a passenger.
Nick Kyrgios anounces he is pulling out of the 2023 Australian Open.AP
The world number 21 can afford it,but could have saved himself some hassle by simply popping on the lid that was hanging from the front of the scooter.
FAMOUS FACES
The celebrity spotting at this year’s open might take a few days to fire up,but there were enough familiar faces among Monday’s Melbourne Park throng to keep things ticking along.
Lord MayorSally Capp was sighted,as was Collingwood footy club legendNathan Buckley and German-born US basketball greatDirk Nowitzki.
Jayne Hrdlicka,left,chairman of Tennis Australia,talks with fellow guests during the Rafael Nadal and Jack Draper match at the Australian Open on Monday.AP
ActorOlympia Valance,celebrity chefSarah Todd and Carlton footballerJack SilvagniandPhantom of the Opera cast membersJosh Piterman,Sam Ludemanand Amy Manford were also enjoying the tennis on Monday.
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