From mid-match wobblies to club house Tim Tams, Kelly Eng writes that Australia’s dusty red suburban courts have just as much triumph and drama as Melbourne Park
This weekend, millions of people will watch in awe as the Australian Open champions drop to their knees in victory.
To me, that’s not real tennis: it’s showbiz. Real tennis is played far away from Melbourne Park, on dusty red suburban courts where juniors, seniors and midweek ladies duke it out in epic battles. With its weathered club houses and diehard players, community tennis is the beating heart of the game.