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.

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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