The Australian Open may not have been able to attract TV viewers but it pulled some serious star power on Sunday night.
Celebrity spectators flocked to watch Novak Djokovic’s victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Rod Laver Arena, continuing the steady stream of high-profile figures attending the event this month.
American billionaire Bill Gates, worth an estimated $146bn, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made second appearances at Melbourne Park when they showed up for the men’s final on Sunday.
It comes after celebrities and A-listers were spotted at the women’s final on Saturday night with Russell Crowe, Pip Edwards and Sophie Monk among the fans watching on as Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina to win her first grand slam title.
There were even more big names on Sunday with Hollywood actor Rachel Griffiths, former Aussie Test captain Ricky Ponting, TV icon Eddie McGuire and billionaire pub-baron Justin Hemmes all spotted in the crowd.
Albanese was photographed in a rather compromised position right at the moment he chomped into a chocolate ice cream while sitting alongside partner Jodi Haydon.
The 59-year-old was on Friday given a round of applause from the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena when he was called out by a fan during Djokovic’s semi-final win.
With the crowd in silence, a spectator could be heard yelling out: “Give us a wave, Albo”.
Sitting alongside US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy and Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka, Albanese responded with a sheepish wave.
The crowd was giggling away at the exchange before the TV cameras showed Albanese chuckling with those around him.
The event has been criticised by plenty with the tournament missing the star power of Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios. However, the men’s final was a very different spectacle.
The battle between Djokovic and Tsitsipas attracted a huge response from Melbourne’s large Greek and Serbian communities with a record attendance of 45,832 fans.
It smashed the previous record for the men’s final when 31,000 fans visited Melbourne Park on Day 14 in 2020.
There were crazy scenes of fans watching on a big screen at Melbourne Park with people cramming into the event, despite Rod Laver Arena having a capacity of around 15,000.
They were all treated to a spectacular show.
An emotional Djokovic called it “the biggest victory in my life” after sweeping past Tsitsipas to win his 10th Australian Open title and equal Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam crowns on Sunday.
The Serb will return to world number one as he overcame a hamstring injury and off-court drama to defeat the Greek third seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) at Rod Laver Arena.
The 35-year-old climbed to his player’s box afterwards to embrace his mother, and broke down in uncontrollable tears.
His father Srdjan was again missing after he sparked controversy by posing with a fan carrying a Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin’s face on Wednesday.
The emphatic victory over Tsitsipas capped a remarkable return for Djokovic to Melbourne Park, having missed last year’s tournament when he was deported over his Covid vaccination stance.
“I have to say this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I’ve ever played considering the circumstances, not playing last year, coming back this year,” he said, wearing a jacket with the number 22 emblazoned on it.
Djokovic, who was more emotional than usual, added: “Only my team and family know what we have been through in the last four or five weeks and this is why I’d probably say this is the biggest victory in my life considering the circumstances.”
He later explained that he and his father had decided it would be better if Djokovic senior was not courtside, his absence leaving an empty seat in his player’s box. It was the same in the semi-finals.
“That hurts him and me a lot because these are special, unique moments that who knows if they are repeated again,” Djokovic said.
– With AFP
