2024 Oz Open

This all started during the last AO - when chatting on WhatsApp with the Willoughby Walker's group - Merrilyn stated that she would love to attend in person. So I responded with "why not do a sisters trip' to the AO next year". Many replied very enthusiastically so the planning started.

Dieter immediatly found a great hotel deal at the Pullman City - about a 20 walk to the tennis center. It was about $800 for 4 nights with a Romance Package (including a bottle of Champagne, breakfast and Club Lounge access). He also noted that you get a suite for around $1000 so decided he would come too - a few other partners jumped in as well. Everyone booked: Pat & Dieter, Merrilyn & Geoff, Mary, Janette, Helen & Garry (as well as Robyn & Roger, Judy and Jean - who all later cancelled). Vaia and John decided to attend as well but made their own arrangements.

Much later around September we all booked our transport - some by air, other by road and one by rail.

When advance tennis bookings opened in early October - Dieter booked the tickets guided by Vaia and John who just happened to be on a long layover in Doha. So now we were all set.

Most of the gang arrived and checked into the Pullman City Hotel today - Janette, Mary, H&G, M&G and D&P all met in the Pullman Club Lounge (henceforth referred to as just the Lounge) for happy hour - which runs from 5pm-7pm - with free flow of drinks and canapés.

The canapés were so great that most people just called it dinner while Dieter and I headed off to the tennis. Where we saw a ladies singles followed by a mens singles which went to 4am the following morning - we called it quits around 1:30am and headed back to the hotel and off to bed.

We all met in the Lounge for an excellent breakfast - even Tattinger Champagne on the buffet - but everyone resisted as it was going to be a big day. At 11am we gathered in the lobby for the 20 minute walk to the AO grounds - it was hip hop and happening. We were seated in the RLA (Rod Laver Arena) and had excellent seats - V&J had not yet arrived in Melbourne. It was a long afternoon - with 2 matches - mens then womens' singles.

We made it back to the hotel in time for happy hour then we were off to dinner at IL Bacaro for an 8:30pm booking - it was excellent. We all got to bed pretty late - around 11pm.

We were off to another day session at the MCA (Margaret Court Arena) - we were seated one section over from V&J. The seats were excellent - no sun and a bit of breeze even though it was not particularly warm. Again we saw 2 matches - a women's singles followed by a mens singles.

We made it back to the hotel in time for happy hour followed by dinner for 10 of us (V&J joined us) at the hotel's rooftop pizza bar - it was a 10 out of 10. Another late night!!

Today we had booked an evening session a the RLA so everyone did their own thing during the day. D&I and Mary did a walk in the botanical gardens. While others caught up with various rellos.

We re-grouped for happy hour before heading over to the tennis - it was our man Alex de Minaur vs Rublev - unfortunately after a very tight 4 sets, Alex fell apart and lost the final set 6-0. A major disappointment for everyone in the stadium.

Then it was off to bed for our last night.

After a long brekkie in the Lounge where some people (no names no pack drill) finished off with a glass of Champagne. We all headed off to the airport for our flights home except Janette who was on an 8:30am train to Yass and H&G who left by car to visit more rellos. V&J were only leaving on a 9pm flight as they has day tickets for the AO.

D&I and Mary were on a 3:30pm Virgin flight - we had a little issue getting into the lounge as Dieter did not have his AmEx card - but I did - anyway after a run-in with the lounge dragon - a call to AmEx sorted it out.