Nina Pantic reports from the 2016 Australian Open on second-week matches—and, in Down Under the Radar, aspects of the tournament that go beyond the court.
MELBOURNE, Australia—Players are treated like royalty at all the Grand Slams, but the Australian Open pushes to be the grandest. And the Happy Slam is proud of it. Posters in the player-populated areas proclaim: “We strive to be your favorite!”
The player perks at the Australian Open are as boundless as the warm weather at Melbourne Park. “Just for showing up,” said one pro, a player receives $2,500 in travel credit that they can use to help cover expenses during their stay. The tournament also provides per diem to help cover hotel costs, and players have access to unlimited transportation around the city at their beck and call.
For every round won, a player can get up to five racquets strung for free—a huge boost for many of the lower-ranked pros.
Then there’s the gift bag. It contains a fairly standard selection of event-branded merchandise—stuffed animal, shirt, hat and backpack—plus an additional 15 percent off at the Australian Open shops. The fun stuff includes a bottle of wine (for post-tournament celebrations, of course), a $350 Myer gift card (think Macy’s department store), and a $250 UGG gift card (still one of the most often seen footwear choices across the globe). On their off days, players can snag tickets to nearby attractions like the zoo, movie theatre, golf course and Ureka Skydeck, a nearly 300-meter skyscraper along the Yarra River.
What’s the best player perk? Many would say it’s the food. Most tournaments have a daily spending limit (for example, it’s $50 at the U.S. Open), but at the Aussie Open, the pros can fuel up to their hearts’ content. The dining options are far from your typical cafeteria choices. Chefs prepare fresh meals ranging from gourmet pasta and pizza to sushi and made-to-order sandwiches, and pretty much anything in between.
There are less obvious perks, as well. For one, players can get up close with endangered animals on site thanks to tournament organizers. You’ve probably seen snaps of players cuddling koalas and wombats, petting kangaroos and even holding huge snakes. These animals are brought in from Healesville Sanctuary, which is over an hour away, and require trainers, special handling and very particular environments. Though not everything goes as planned, as Eugenie Boouchard discovered two years ago: