For subscribers

Sporting Life

Tennis sighs in relief as Australian Open closes a door on the past

Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox

Stars are ornaments to an Open, but they are not the foundation, says the writer.

PHOTO: AFP

Google Preferred Source badge
The first person to place a competitive, sneakered toe on Rod Laver Arena on day one of the Djokovic-less Australian Open was a 34-year-old mother who had her second child last year. When she was pregnant with her first child, Tatjana Maria changed to a single-handed backhand.
On day one the Open was doing what it does best.
See more on