Angie Kerber This is usually my favourite time of year. I’ve been attending the Australian Open and watching it on TV during the second half of January for over thirty years. As well as watching tennis I spend time meeting up with tennis friends, tweeting about tennis, sharing photos on Instagram and being immersed in the wins and losses, the drama, the comments about outfits and the chit chat. I love it. It’s my happy place! But this year coronavirus has changed that. In early December I wrote this article about how I feel about Australian Open 2021. It’s been confirmed that AO will go ahead ..read more

Delayed from commencing on 18 January, the 2021 Australian Open is likely to go ahead from 8 February but as yet I can’t see that confirmed on the AO website. From what I’ve understand the delay is to allow time to figure out the details of how it will work. And there are a lot of aspects to consider. News is that Tennis Australia, the organisation that runs AO, will pay costs for players to quarantine for 14 days before the tournament. They can arrive in Australia from 15 January and will be allowed out in a bubble for up to five hours per day to train. They will be tested for COVID-19 regul ..read more

Here’s my annual wrap-up article for the Australian Open, which yet again delivered huge matches and huge crowds plus many memories and meaningful moments. The Australian Open is my favourite grand slam tournament I was first went in 1989, just after the tournament moved from Kooyong to Melbourne Park. I’ve been going regularly ever since. It’s my home slam and there are a lot of things that I love about it. I love how the city of Melbourne gets involved with the tournament. I love the true tennis fans that visit Melbourne to attend. I love the tough matches, the tournament experience, the co ..read more

Have a look at the prize money earned by WTA and ATP players at the Sydney International in 2018. The prize money is quoted in US Dollars. Angie Kerber with her Australian Open 2016 trophy Wondering about the prize money the Aussies will get? Ash Barty was runner up to Angie Kerber in the final so she’ll get US 73,201. If Alex De Minaur defeats Medvedev in the final he’ll win US 83,650 and as runner up he’ll get US 44,055. Sydney International WTA Prize Money Total women’s prize money $799,000 This is a WTA Premier Event. Winner: $137,125 Finalist: $73,201 Semi-Finalist: $39,132 Quarter ..read more

View photos from Rafael Nadal’s taken during his match against Richard Gasquet at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne on Tuesday 9 January 2018. The tickets were General Admission (no reserved seats) so I had to take the best available. I was in the second tier and therefore a way back from the court, and I only had my little camera, so these photos aren’t my best work, but hey, it’s Rafa, in Melbourne, without injury. Enjoy! The photos aren’t watermarked so if you share them please credit @grandslamgal on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, or link to this page. Thanks! Until ne ..read more

Southbank in Brisbane Have a look at the prize money earned by WTA and ATP players at the Brisbane International in 2018. The prize money is quoted in US Dollars. Note – Alex De Minaur will receive for $23,865 (USD) for making the semi final as will Nick Kyrgios. Nick Kyrgios will receive $44,055 as a finalist and if he wins the final the prize money is $83,650. Brisbane International WTA Prize Money Total women’s prize money $1,000,000 Winner: $190,732 Finalist: $101,475 Semi Finalist: $54,200 Quarter Finalist: $23,265 Second Round: $12,477 First Round: $6,813 Total men’s prize mone ..read more

Read a fabulous review of what it’s like to spend a few days as a tennis fan in Paris for Roland Garros. Be warned that reading it will make you want to go there! It brought back so many memories for me. Huge thanks to Joe, @ProdigyRep for sharing this fabulous article on visiting Paris for Roland Garros. Being a big Tennis fan living in the UK, I’ve always been lucky to be able to attend Wimbledon on multiple occasions. However, attending a slam overseas (all of them eventually) had always been a huge goal for me and after initial plans to attend the US Open this year see ..read more

Here’s my annual fan wrap up of the Australian Open, which, as always, was a happy slam experience for fans, players and staff alike. The Australian Open never fails to deliver amazing tennis and memorable moments. This year was particularly good in terms of the all Williams Women’s Final and the Federer v Nadal match up for the Men’s Final. Notably both the World No.1 Andy Murray and World No.2 Novak Djokovic went out by Round 4, as did Women’s No.1 Angelique Kerber, so it wasn’t great for their fans. As always there were new features around the grounds, including a lot more food and drink o ..read more

Venus and Serena Williams played each other in the Women’s Final of the 2017 Australian Open. Serena won in straight sets to achieve her 23rd grand slam title, and pass Steffi Graf’s record.  As well as being at the Women’s final with a fabulous seat with thanks to www.grandslamtennistours.com we’ve been lucky enough to see Serena in Round 2, Venus in her quarter-final and both players practicing. Take a look at our best photos. Serena during her Round two match against Lucie Safarova Venus during her quarter-final match against Pavyluchenkova Happy winner, through to the semi-fin ..read more

View pics of Roger Federer practicing at the 2017 Australian Open ahead of his quarter-final match against Mischa Zverev.   Until next time Grand Slam Gal The post Australian Open 2017: Roger Federer Day 8 & 9 Practice Photos first appeared on grandslamgal.com ..read more