From trophy makers serving up serious style behind the scenes at the Australian Open, to covetable fashion collabs, memorable merch and top tucker, there is much to savour at this year’s tournament.
Silver service
Looking after “Norm” and “Daph” is Darren May’s chief responsibility. They sound like a kindly, old couple, but the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup are the trophies for the winners of the men’s and women’s singles respectively at the Australian Open.
While most attention is given to the winners’ sizeable cheques, it’s May’s job, as general manager of goldsmith and silversmith experts W. J. Sanders, to make sure that Norm and Daph get the respect they deserve. “Norm, Daph and the trophies for all the doubles winners are all handmade by artisans in Marrickville, Sydney, using Australian silver,” says May (pictured). “They’re a timeless testament to what the players have accomplished. People ask all the time what they’re worth, but they’re not a commodity.”
The Norman Brookes, modelled on the ancient Roman Warwick Vase discovered at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, is crafted using bespoke spinning techniques that require hiring workers from the UK and Portugal. “The number of people with this expertise is declining,” says May. “We’re lucky to have access to the skills.”
Originally, Norm – which weighs eight kilograms with the finished plinth – was half the size, but when W. J. Sanders assumed production in 2012, it was enlarged. “Rafael Nadal is rumoured to have said, ‘If this is a grand slam, it needs a grand trophy,’ ” May explains.
It may be the most recognisable of the pair, but May admits to having a soft spot for Daph’s elegance. “Ash Barty was the first player to lift the solid-silver trophy [in 2022],” he says. “Before then, it was just silver-plated, first presented in 1934.”
Patriot games
Look the part with New Balance’s Australian Open collection.
US sportswear brand New Balance has acquired an Australian accent to rival Kate Winslet’s in The Dressmaker and Dev Patel’s in Lion. T-shirts emblazoned with the courtside chant “Aussie Aussie Aussie” in lurid green and gold raise a smile faster than watching a rival country drop a point. If your allegiances are torn, there’s a plain T-shirt with the AO logo and some fitted women’s shorts that might have some players wondering what in the world they’re doing still wearing a pleated skirt.
Graphic T-shirt, $60; women’s shorts, $90.
Love all
Ralph Lauren’s domination of tennis apparel at Wimbledon, the US Open and Australia’s premier tennis event has led to a plethora of branded merch. Here’s a round-up of our fave Ts:
Court appearance
The Gucci Tennis collection will only be available in the luxury brand’s Melbourne boutiques during the AO.
Seventies style has inspired Gucci designer Sabato De Sarno’s capsule collection of tennis essentials. Along with a new duffle bag, racquet backpack, racquet bag and shoe holder comes a tennis dress that’s perfect for winning off-court trend tournaments. The sleek, white silhouette and box pleats whisper quiet luxury, with the dress relying on a discreet logo and web stripe details to signal its Italian heritage. The Gucci Tennis collection, which debuted in Paris during the French Open, will only be available in Gucci’s Melbourne boutiques during the Australian Open. Gucci Tennis ivory pleated dress with embroidery, $3350.
Watching brief
Canadian tennis player and content creator Ayan Broomfield says “comfort is key” when it comes to choosing what to wear to the tennis.Credit: Getty Images
Canadian tennis player and content creator Ayan Broomfield has a knack for looking great off-court, often supporting boyfriend Frances Tiafoe from the stands. This year, she’ll be representing AO sponsor Piper-Heidsieck in the fashion stakes from her prime position. Her style tips are as follows:
- “Check the weather before finalising your outfit. I once wore a full leather outfit to a tennis match on a 35-degree day. It was the most uncomfortable two hours of my life.”
- “Comfort is key – and it can be cute. Tennis venues are large spaces, which means lots of walking. Want something dressier than sneakers on your feet? Consider wedges or kitten heels.”
- “Some of the best outfits I’ve seen at tennis tournaments have been actual tennis attire. You can’t ever go wrong with a simple tennis dress or skirt. Just personalise with accessories.”
A good serve
Good Weekend’s Julia Busuttil Nishimura will be dishing up one-hand-friendly recipes in Garden Square.Credit: Kristoffer Paulsen
Gone are the days of hot-dogs and fries qualifying as good grub for hungry sports fans. This year, several culinary top seeds make their Australian Open debut, including Brigitte Hafner, who’ll be transplanting her two-hatted Tedesca Osteria from the Mornington Peninsula during finals week. Meanwhile, homesick Sydneysiders can feast on fare from Martin Benn and Vicki Wild, formerly of Sepia.
For more affordable eats, head to Garden Square, where Good Weekend’s own Julia Busuttil Nishimura will be dishing up one-hand-friendly recipes, including Maltese ricotta pastizzi, while a steak-filled baguette or burger from Gallic hotspot Entrecôte will keep fans fuelled for any late-night five-setters.
There’s something for party animals, too, the hottest ticket in town being a berth at Riverside Social, where LA-based Grandmaster Recorders (co-owned by Aussie expat hospitality guru Grant Smillie) will be in residence for cocktails and canapés with a California vibe.
Still hungry? For post-match celebrity-spotting – and Melbourne’s most-talked-about chocolate mousse – head to nearby Lucas Group newcomer Maison Bâtard’s Le Club, which will be open until 3am.
Premium tennis packages start at $469 per person. Maison Bâtard, 23 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Haute hydration
Luxury leathergoods meets sustainable drinkware with this water-bottle collaboration.
Sometimes, multiple brands combine to create a product that makes total sense, making you wonder what took them so long. This leather-bound drink bottle brings together two great Australian names: luxury leathergoods house Oroton and sustainable drinkware label Frank Green. The result – a range of drinking vessels and bottle carriers in tennis-friendly colourways, including bottle-green and white – will make you the most stylish water boy (or girl) around the courts. Oroton X Frank Green bottle, $119.
Hybrid hero
The perfect courtside accessory: the feel of a basket with the security of a bag.
There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about carrying a basket as a handbag, especially in the summertime. But it isn’t always the most practical choice (just ask Jane Birkin, whose namesake Hermès bag was reportedly conceived following an embarrassing basket spill across a plane aisle). This season, stylist Romy Frydman has teamed with Kinnon to design a range of bags that fuse the happy-go-lucky feel of a basket with the security of a bag. With tenniscore-vibing rattan inlays, they’re the perfect receptacle for courtside essentials. Crossbody bag, $295.
Game, set…and match
Retired Chinese player Li Na (left) has begun mentoring compatriot Qinwen Zheng (right).Credit: Getty Images
Tennis is known for its rivalries: Rafael Nadal v Roger Federer; Billie Jean King v Margaret Court; the Williams sisters. Less celebrated are the game’s partnerships, whether they be in the coaches’ boxes – watch out for Andy Murray on Team Djokovic this summer – or at a less official level. One blossoming mentorship is between retired Chinese player Li Na , who won the Australian Open in 2014, and her compatriot and tournament hot-ticket Qinwen Zheng, who won gold at the Paris Olympics. Both women are also ambassadors for luxury watch brand Rolex – as is Melbourne Park icon Rod Laver, who’ll be watching the action from a front-row seat at the centre court named in his honour.
Two in one
July’s carry-on luggage features a magnetic racquet holder.
It’s a conundrum nearly as old as the game of tennis itself: take one’s racquet on holiday, or risk the hotel gear? Thankfully, Melbourne-based luggage brand July has answered the question with a capsule range of cases and bags with the tennis fan (and weekend warrior) in mind. The carry-on features a magnetic racquet holder that niftily clips to the front of the case and the colours suggest classic courtside cred: think a tough navy hard shell, soft brown handles, cream accents and a striped interior. For extra fun, there’s a range of stickers to decorate your pieces. Available at July stores, online or at the pop-up at the Open. Carry-on, $465; travel bag, $125; stickers, $35.
