14 January 2025 | Tennis Victoria

Last week, we celebrated the Opening Week of the Australian Open, which featured a series of charity matches held at Rod Laver Arena. The event brought together some of the biggest stars of the game, competing in a fun and light-hearted atmosphere. Running from January 7–10, the program offered more than just practice singles matches, including unique activities such as Red Bull Bassline – a unique tie-break tennis event, a mixed doubles charity match with players mic’d up and back by popular demand, A Night with Novak, which was a sold-out event. All funds raised from ticket sales will go to support a range of charities through the Australian Tennis Foundation. Tickets started at just $30, making the event widely accessible and giving fans the opportunity to watch world-class players while also exploring the non-tennis-related attractions at Melbourne Park.

On Tuesday, the first practice match saw world No. 1 and last year’s AO winner Jannik Sinner face off against local Australian Alexei Popyrin. As part of the festivities, Victorian Pennant players were invited to enjoy the match from premium seating—a gesture by Tennis Victoria to reward and recognise them for their Pennant success. We took the chance to chat with some of these players about their AO experience and what the tournament means to them, both as fans and players. Click here to see highlights from the night and hear what the Pennant players shared.

On Wednesday, January 8, we hosted a Presidents’ Event that included a hospitality experience at John Cain Arena, followed by an action-packed evening of tennis on Rod Laver Arena for our invitees. The event featured an afternoon of food and beverages and the opportunity to network with notable club figures. Tennis Victoria CEO, Kim Kachel presented our new strategy for 2027 and hosted a Q&A session with former Australian tennis great and current member of Parliament, Sam Groth. After the hospitality session, attendees were treated to premium seating for two exciting practice matches: Zheng Qinwen vs. Elina Svitolina, followed by Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alex de Minaur. Click here to see behind-the-scenes videos from the night.

Thursday was a jam-packed day, starting with the Victorian Regional Deliverers Workshop in the morning. The workshop provided an engaging and informative day for tennis deliverers, blending professional development with networking opportunities and an unforgettable Australian Open experience. Held at the Melbourne Girls Grammar School Artemis Centre, the workshop opened with coffee and networking, followed by a series of insightful sessions and practical demonstrations led by industry experts. Emma Doyle, Mindset and Team Building Coach, opened the day with a lively and inspiring presentation. Further highlights included a presentation from Martin Rocca, Tennis Australia Coach Education Specialist, with a focus on Red Stage Hot Shots, Emma Doyle’s guidance on transitioning players from Orange to Green Stage, and President and Head Coach of Parkes Tennis Club, Helen Magill’s, session on building thriving regional tennis communities. Participants also gained valuable insights into Cardio Lite and Play from David Laird, Tennis Australia Club Professional Coach, before closing with reflections led again by the passionate Emma Doyle. The day concluded with an exciting visit to Melbourne Park to watch the Australian Open qualifying matches, dinner, and an opportunity to connect with peers while soaking in the atmosphere of world-class tennis.

Thursday afternoon also saw Metro Club Presidents come together for a similar event format. They attended the strategy presentation by Kim Kachel and watched a Q&A session run by well-known television journalist and event MC, Jodi Lee with a guest appearance from current world No. 114 Victorian Marc Polmans. Following the session, the presidents headed to Rod Laver Arena for A Night with Novak, which was filled with laughs, surprises, and fun with Novak Djokovic and other pros. Click here for a recap of the Metro Presidents’ Event.

The final night of Opening Week, Friday, January 10, concluded with the Country Club Presidents’ Event, which followed a format similar to the previous events. After the strategy presentation guest were treated to another Q&A with special guest Luke Saville. Attendees were then escorted to one of the week’s most exciting matchups: Jannik Sinner vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas. Click here to see highlights from the Country Club Presidents’ Event.

Tennis Victoria CEO, Kim Kachel, reflected on the successes of Opening Week, saying; “Opening Week was a fantastic celebration of our Victorian players, community champions, and club leaders. They dedicate their lives to our sport, and it was a great way to recognise, reward, and thank them through premium hospitality and seating at world-class tennis events. It was a huge week of events and community connections, with many networking with like-minded stakeholders from across the state. From recognising our Pennant players to engaging with club presidents, volunteers, coaches, and associations, the week highlighted the spirit and passion that drives tennis in Victoria.” Opening Week was a tremendous success for Tennis Victoria, providing an excellent opportunity for the tennis community to connect and network. It also served as a platform to recognise and reward Pennant players and club volunteers for their invaluable contributions throughout the year. We couldn’t have done it without their support, and we are deeply grateful for everything they do to make tennis as successful as it can be.