What I See with Peter Fiorenza: For a tennis tragic like me, attending the Australian Open is simply heaven

I just love the game of tennis and attending the Australian Open is the equivalent of tennis heaven. That’s what I did recently with a couple of my very good friends. Since I was very young, I have been fascinated with the sporting world of tennis and have sat up until the early hours of the morning watching Wimbledon for as long as I can remember. I’ve closely followed the careers of Bjorn Borg, Pat Cash, Stefan Edberg, Pat Rafter, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. I vividly remember watching the great Boris Becker hold the All England Club trophy aloft back in 1985 — he was only 17 years of age and the first unseeded player to take out the Wimbledon title. At that time, the German sensation took on the title of wunderkind (wonderboy) and there was no doubt that’s indeed what he was. I don’t really know what it is that attracts me so much to tennis over other sports. I really enjoy my AFL and I also like following basketball and cricket, but I reckon there is an extra element of glamour that sets tennis apart from the others. I suppose I’m impressed by the gladiatorial personas that are taken on by the players in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Tennis is one of the only sports where individuals are all alone and left to their own devices for three, four and sometimes five hours. In my book, feats like this are herculean, to say the least. It is only in the last couple of years that coaches have been able to sit at close quarters, allowing them to briefly talk to their charges. I believe this is only allowed to happen at the AO. I have now had the privilege of attending the AO on four occasions, and equally fortunate to see some of the greats of the game in the flesh. This year, opportunities allowed me to see our Alex de Minaur, Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff from the US, all at close quarters, amid the unique atmosphere of Rod Laver Arena. For those who have not been to the AO, it is an incredibly unique event. They say when the City of Melbourne puts on a show, it is usually pretty special. Well, the AO at Melbourne Park can be only described as the Melbourne show to beat all shows. I know, the AFL grand final and Melbourne Cup are outstanding, but, for me, the three weeks when Melbourne Park is transformed is nothing but next level. From the moment you pass through the gates, you are confronted by bar after bar, restaurants, pop-up demonstrations, promotional outlets and mini-concerts. And then, of course, there is the tennis. There are the three big stadiums, and surrounding them are show courts and practice courts galore. Incredibly, all this is within a stone’s throw from the city. I think you might get it now. Tennis and the AO are simply fabulous. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA. You can also listen to him on Radio Geraldton (radiogeraldton.com.au).