Were you watching the Tennis? Well, the new Mens Doubles winners were Australian. Last years Mens Doubles winners were home grown too. Kokkinakis and Kyrios, they got bundled out early. Hijikata and Kubler they won the final 6-4, 7-6.
Doubles Is Different
There is something about doubles that harks back to the old tennis. Serve and volley, points won at the net. The ball fizzes about all over the place. Oh and those extra lines that are out of bounds in singles games are in play now.
What also appears is teamwork. Not that singles players do everything by themselves. Even Nick Kyrios, who eschews the requirement of a coach, still has a group to assist him. What doubles brings is visible team work on the court. Even when points go against them, the two players still give a fist bump or a quick nod. Game plan still in order, that was just a great shot. Lets keep on going.
Perhaps the most curious facet of doubles are hands over the mouth as they tell each other what they want to do for this game. While most would speak in english, not all doubles pairs have the need to use english at all. Then there is the fact that the crowd is there. Not all doubles matches take place before a large crowd but are players lip reading that good in tennis?
Novak Won, Again
What also happened was that Novak Djokovic won again. With Nadal and Federer out there is no one to challenge him right now. Till the next big player arrives Djokovic has time to put build up his retirement fund. Who knows how many years he has?
Yes, years. Look out there and pick a new champion? Tsitsipas?. Medvedev? Korda? Tiafoe? No one is has really stepped up, yet. At 35 Novak has the tennis world at his feet. Only covid stopped him from earning. That did not last that long for him. With the French Open and Wimbledon to come Nadal will be there but how fit is he?
Of course you cannot mention the issues with Novak’s Dad. Which are lamentable, though as we all found out during covid, exceptionalism is standard practice for tennis. The “Where’s Wally” fiasco was prime Australian crowd activity. One hoped that it was better organised and they had more than one “drunken moment”.
To be honest when it comes to the whole lockdown covid defiance you would expect more supporting Djokovic due to his stance. The virus still is a major health concern and people are still dying every week. Just not those who play and watch tennis it seems.
Sabalenka Won too
Aryna Sabalenka won the Womens singles title. Unlike the mens competition there is an open field. Many contenders to choose from and multiple players having to step up. Sabalenka was the fifth seed at the Australian Open. Currently world number one she has time to establish herself.
As to what comes there is the feel that the networks and pundits are waiting to see who rises to the top. Unlike the mens which still has Djokovic and Nadal hanging around, past champions are gone. We will see what the French Open and Wimbledon bring us.
What did surprise was the attendance at the 2023 Australian Open. This was the biggest attendance ever, surpassing 2020’s 812,174 with 839,192 for 2023. AO organisers had targeted 900,000 to be just shy of that figure is no failure. To see such a large attendance is certainly signs that Melbourne is reclaiming its place as a destination for world class events once more.
Phillip Hall has been too long in Melbourne to see AFL in the same light as those back in Fremantle. East Fremantle born and bred, he would love to see the Dockers back in the eight. But would settle for just beating West Coast twice a year.