It’s fair to say I am somewhat of a tennis nut. Wimbledon is the highlight of my year, and every summer for the past 12 years I have been lucky enough to work within the lawns of SW19 in some capacity or other.
As a journalist, I am now privileged to report on matches and interview players; but I had just as much fun getting soaked when the heavens opened as a ‘court coverer’ in my fun-loving student days.
Inevitably, Wimbledon blues set in when the last ball has been struck, and by the time the bleak mid-winter months arrive in the UK, I am battling the equivalent of TSAD - Tennis Seasonal Affective Disorder.
In the dark, depressing, days of December as I shivered through temperatures of minus three, dealt with chilblains caused by scraping thick ice off my car, and buried my nose in my scarf to avoid the winter vomiting bugs doing the rounds, one thought kept me going: January was around the corner - and with it, the glorious Australian Open.
Except this time I wouldn’t be watching it on TV - I would be there in person working alongside the Australian Open web team to eat, sleep and breathe every moment of the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific.
And what an amazing experience it has been. I have worked with a fabulous team of people, at a top tournament in one of the best cities in the world. It has been my maiden Australian Open – a truly fantastic experience - and I hope it will be the start of many more. Summing up my highlights has been a hard task – there have been so many – but below are my top five.
1) Covering the Rafael Nadal v Fernando Verdasco night match: Being a grass court tournament, Wimbledon is unable to host night matches, so the whole concept was new to me. Adrenalin-pumped night sessions generate a buzz of electricity around the grounds, especially when they are contested into the wee hours of the morning. This year there were plenty. Jelena Dokic whipped Australian fans into frenzy on more that one occasion but, for me, the match of the tournament was this semifinal between the two Spaniards. The tennis was flawless; it became the longest match in Australian Open history, and I had the privilege of being there.
2) Weather: As much as I adore Wimbledon, the weather can be a bind. Rain, rain and more rain. Yet Melbourne Park was bathed in glorious sunshine for most of the week. Simply not being cold was a joy in itself. At some points I had never known heat like it, but I have managed to top up my tan while working. Not bad going!
3) Garden Square: What better way to watch the night tennis than on the big screen in balmy temperatures? During the day, it’s a great place to socialise and listen to the bands. This year they ranged from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, to pop and rock bands. This laid-back haven is also a great place to escape to if you need five minutes to clear your head.
4) Radio Scripts: As a long time print journalist I never usually dabble in the world of broadcasting, but I had the chance to put together some quirky pieces for audio slideshows. An Ode to Safin and Helen’s Hunks were by no means a chore to research – I got to choose the pictures, write the script and select the soundtrack – a refreshingly fun and new experience.
5) Finally, I finish with my team. It may be a stereotype, but Australians truly are a relaxed, easy-going bunch. Grand Slams are hectic, everyone is under pressure and you’re working with the same people for hours on end. It’s natural for tempers to get frayed. Not here. It’s been a joy to work with my fellow tennis-heads who are now more like friends than colleagues, and it will be a little tear-jerking tomorrow when the reality that the tournament is over sets in.
