This January, I went back to the Australian Open for the second time—and it felt even more special than the first.
This time, my friends travelled all the way from New Zealand, and they turned out to be pros at asking for fan signs—so we ended up with autographs from some of the biggest names on tour.

Highlights? Too many to count, but here are the ones that stand out:

• Watching Alex Eala play women’s doubles with Ingrid Martins and getting a signed hat from them after the match.

• Watching One-Point shot, then practice games of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Alex Eala, Novak Djokovic to name a few.

• Picking up signatures from Jessica Pegula, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Alex de Minaur, and Jasmine Paolini as we moved around the precinct.

Outside the gates, things got even cooler:

• I managed to take a groufie with Coco Gauff at the New Balance pop‑up store on Flinders Street during the Open.

• Then, completely by chance, I spotted Gael Monfils arrived outside his hotel, which felt like a wild little bonus from the AO universe.

My 2nd AO trip reminded me that this tournament isn’t just about the matches—it’s about the people, the random encounters, and the moments that feel too good to be real.

And after all this? Definitely more Australian Opens to come. 🌟💛