Jim & Barbara Burton Travel: Melbourne

Melbourne – Australian Open Tennis

We arrived in Melbourne January 21^st, 2013 and checked into our hotel “The Mantra on Jolimont”. We had booked this hotel for its proximity to the Melbourne Tennis Centre, a five-minute walk away. With much trepidation on our arrival, wondering if our tickets were there, we were handed the “Golden Envelope” with two pieces of printed-paper and folding instructions. We were given our room keys and proceeded to the eighth floor to find that we had the penthouse suite, from which, our balcony overlooked the tennis stadium, hence, we saw many of the top players practicing early in the morning.

After taking a walk in the immediate vicinity to get our bearings and some groceries for breakfast we then walked out for dinner choosing a lovely Italian restaurant Il Duca where the food was excellent.

The city was buzzing with tennis fever. Our hotel had tons of balloons on the banisters and full size cut outs of Pat Cash everywhere. Everyone that was staying there, was in Melbourne for the tennis, young and old, from places near and far.

January 22^nd !!! The BIG DAY, quarter-finals. Off we went, envelope with the tickets stashed safely away. What happens if we get there and they are FAKE!!!!! Trusting soul that I am. Driving Jim mad.

We approach the gate, remove the duly folded pieces of paper and feed them into the machine. SUCCESS! We are into the grounds. Now what if we are turned away at Arthur Ashe Stadium????? Further driving Jim mad. We are early, needless to say and stroll around the grounds taking in the atmosphere. Can you imagine being the other side of the world at a venue that you have watched only on T.V. for endless years and here you are up close and personal. I pinched myself to see if I was really there but I was and just got an unnecessary owey!!!! After doing the stroll, pretending that we did it everyday and that it was not a once in a lifetime experience we headed for Rod Laver Arena. Na! Na! Na! Na! – Na! Na! Na! Na1 and one flash of the paper and we are in. Yeah!!!!! We took our seats, nine rows from the front. Perfect view. We thought that we would see two quarter finals for the day session but realized very quickly that we would see three. Two women’s matches and one men’s.

Our first match was Na Li vs. Agnieska Radwanska. A well-fought match with Li prevailing. The next match was Nicolas Almagro vs. David Ferrer both from Spain, which went the distance, five sets. Almagro twice served for the match and somehow Ferrer thwarted his charge. Ferrer had been the underdog for three sets but managed to win the third set. Almagro unfortunately started to cramp and Ferrer took charge and prevailed in five sets. Ferrer then lost to Djokovic in straight sets in the semis.

Our third match was Sharapova vs. Makarova, which was over in a flurry with Sharapova the victor in two straight sets.

Our day in the sun was over. Elation and deflation, it was over and too emotional to describe, but wait there is more to come.!!!! Jim was very astute and noticed that there were a few tickets left for the next day’s day session and who was on the schedule but ANDY MURRAY. We rushed to the ticket wicket and managed to procure seats in the shade, albeit up high but still close enough to see everything.

Our first match was Serena Williams (not my favourite player) vs. Sloane Stephens. We had heard, the day before, that S.W. had been drilled in the back by he sister Venus, while playing and losing their doubles match. S.W., came out playing vastly under par and went on to lose the match to young Sloane Stephens who was shocked to say the least. Next on court was Azarenka, who played Kuznetsova. Azarenka was very unsporting and took a medical time out at a very inappropriate time, essentially because she was choking. Unfortunately, she came back and won the match.

Then, the ultimate!!!! ANDY MURRAY!!!! There we were, among the Scottish contingent. In front the Scottish Choir. They were Four Guys actually singing for Andy Murray and were very funny to say the least. Murray played the Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy and won in three straight sets but it was the end to a perfect two days and something I will never forget, barring dementia!!!!