Australian Open Qualifying and Practice

 The Australian Open Tennis proper begins next week.  For access to the grounds it costs $59, but you won't get to see any of the games in the main arenas.  Seats there are North of $100 for each session on the early days.  By women's semifinal they are from $299 per session in Rod Laver Arena. However in the first week, qualifying and practice, it costs $15 for a ground pass including entry to Rod Laver Arena, which seemed worth an investment.

I took the tram to the Police Memorial and walked over to the Yarra.  This small memorial "... to our Glorious Dead .."was on the banks of the river, and had been erected by the Rowing Association.

A view of the CBD and the rower-infested Yarra.
It was a pain getting in as:
  • there were no signs about where to buy a ticket; and
  • the booth was invisible from the gate and 200m away from it; and 
  • rather than handing over the $15 and getting a cloakroom ticket you had to give details (I await the deluge of marketing stuff); and
  • there were various security time wastes.
But I got in and saw Kia Arena so took a look there at Heather Watson (Pom, bottom) playing, and whupping, Varvara Lepchenko (Yank, top).
Ms Watson gets some air.
On another court I wandered by a little later, so does Marton Fucsovics of Hungary
What did you do at work today?  Put on a tennis ball.
It was a tad warm so they had fans for the fans ....
... and a tunnel of spray.
The numbered courts were fairly densely packed in, as were the punters.
In that area the fans are close to the action.
the entrance to Rid Laver Arena.
Inside the RLA.    Pick a seat - most people were going for the shade.

When I first entered the practice was Aryna Sabalenka with ..
Jasmine Paolini.
A few things to note between games.  Nice shelters.  The size of the entourage - they need the prize money to pay that crew!  The security prat (blue shirt): there were at least six of them menacing the crowd on rests.
At the end of the session kids hung down balls, books, caps etc to be signed and the payers all joined in this fun. 
Sabalenka was interviewed on a small platform new the mob. Then she  - under the white towel - did a bunch more signing!
Novac Djokovic serves.
... and returns.  The routine seemed to 30 minutes of drills (most of which was far more skilful than I have seen before) and an hour of game play.  Probably about 90% of effort.  Good to see Novak do a couple of tweeners,

He was with Jack Draper, who I was told was Australian but was actually a Pom.  Cannon fodder, but he held his end up.
Draper also got to do do some signing.
This is the mob getting ready for the signing,
The third session was Victoria Azarenka ...
.. with Coco Gauff.
This is my favourite photo.
Basically an excellent days entertainment.


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