Retired tennis star Ash Barty is heading back to the scene of her Australian Open triumph, committing to a range of appearances at Melbourne Park throughout the tournament.
Barty has a range of corporate obligations, many of which would have been locked in with sponsors before her sudden retirement earlier this year.
Ash Barty won’t be part of Nine’s commentary team at the 2023 Australian Open.Credit:The Age
Channel Nine, the publishers of this masthead, made enquiries with Barty’s manager to gauge whether the two-time grand slam champion would be interested in commentary work.
She would have been a welcome addition alongside the likes of Lleyton Hewitt, Jim Courier, Casey Dellacqua, Todd Woodbridge, Alicia Molik and Jelena Dokic.
Unfortunately for viewers watching the grand slam from home, Barty isn’t quite ready for a life in the commentary box – at least for now.
From Green Machine to practice courts
Despite withdrawing from the tournament with an ankle injury, Nick Kyrgios turned up at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday for another practice session.
Nick Kyrgios at the practice courts at United Cup at Sydney Olympic Park.Credit:Nick Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald
He hit with fellow Australian and world No.982 Blake Mott on the very far court of the facility.
The day before Kyrgios managed to slip past the cameras for a practice session on the back courts while fans and media were inside Ken Rosewall Arena for the opening match of the United Cup.
He’s a hard man to miss, rocking up in his bright-green Tesla, his red Air Jordan cap and his green Nike sneakers.
Australian tennis ace Nick Kyrgios.Credit:Nick Moir
Pickleball over Melbourne Park
The Herald has been told that a former top 10 male tennis player, who is still active on tour, is considering not travelling to compete in next month’s Australian Open to focus on playing Pickleball.
Rosewall on way to home court
The man whose name adorns Sydney’s main tennis venue was seen taking in the United Cup action at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena earlier this week.
But we’ve been assured Rosewall will be in the harbour city later in the event to watch the action – and he’ll be taking the long road to get here.
At 88, you might think Rosewall would be happy to accept the easier life. Yet, he’s planning on driving from the Gold Coast to Sydney for the United Cup and is set to make a stop or two along the way to visit friends.
Nadal and co. opt for city grandeur
Sydney Olympic Park might be the hub of all United Cup activity in NSW, but the world’s best players such as Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev and Jessica Pegula are enjoying the high life in the city away from the courts.
Despite the option of accommodation within walking distance in the Olympic precinct, the majority of stars are being ferried to practice sessions and their matches from the luxurious Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park in the city.
It’s allowed for those players to immerse themselves into some water pursuits, with Zverev insisting he learns more about surfing at Bondi Beach while in town.
TLC time for United Cup trophy
United Cup organisers went above and beyond to ensure they could bring a world-class field to Australia for the inaugural $22 million event, but they’re also going the extra yard to preserve the trophy.
After a week of being carted around for promotional opportunities, including ones by Sydney Harbour, tournament officials sent the hardware for a quick clean due to minor seawater damage.
Tournament director Stephen Farrow was seen inspecting the trophy as he brought it back into Sydney Olympic Park late on Thursday night.
Star billing for Alcaraz
The ATP released its yearly media guide this week, filled with all sorts of useful and not-so-useful titbits on the world’s best men’s players. But this time it came with a slight difference.
For only the second time in almost 20 years, one of the big three – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer – didn’t grace the media guide’s cover.
Instead, 19-year-old US Open winner and newly-minted world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz was pictured with a fist pump on the red clay, a surface Nadal has made his own.
Watch the United Cup live and free on the 9Network – Channel 9 and 9Gem. Every match will be available live on 9Now.
