| The Australian summer tennis series is upon us once | | | | action. The best ticket during the grand slam is the |
| again. For most players the Australian Open is one of | | | | "Grounds Pass" for the first week where you can get |
| the toughest tournaments of the year due to several | | | | courtside and watch some of the great matches on |
| factors. | | | | the outside courts. It is during the second week that |
| First of all many players use the last month of the | | | | most of the outside matches consist of the juniors, |
| year to take a break from the tour and their hectic | | | | mixed doubles and veterans' matches. |
| travel schedules. As a result many players struggle | | | | Roger Federer's chance of winning all four grand slam |
| physically to cope after this extensive layoff. To add | | | | tennis titles starts here in Australia. His preparation was |
| to the drama most players are coming out of the cold | | | | suppose to start at the Kooyong Classic but he was a |
| winter conditions of Europe and the USA and straight | | | | late withdrawal due to illness. Federer would have had |
| into extremely hot weather conditions of the Aussie | | | | some valuable match play against his fellow top |
| Open. | | | | players such as Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez, |
| The Australian Open is notorious for players having to | | | | David Nalbandian, Tommy Haas, Andy Murray, Ivan |
| forfeit matches due to heat exhaustion. As a result | | | | Ljubicic and the crowd favourite Marat Safin. The |
| there is a great opportunity for those players who | | | | Kooyong Classic will be the first opportunity for many |
| may be inferior when it comes to talent but possess | | | | of the players to test out the new surface of |
| superior fitness levels. | | | | Plexi-cushion which has replaced the controversial |
| The Australian open has undergone some major | | | | rebound ace. |
| changes but none more so that the new surface that | | | | The Australian Open always produces some great |
| has been laid down. The green colour of the rebound | | | | matches and we look forward to another great |
| ace courts have been replaced by the blue | | | | tournament this year. Of course it is Federer's |
| Plexi-cushion surface. Only time will tell as to the | | | | tournament to win but there will be some players trying |
| playability of the new surface. So far in the lead up | | | | to knock him off. Some of the players to watch out |
| tournaments in the Hopman Cup and also in Adelaide | | | | for include Roddick, Murray, Hewitt and Gonazalez. |
| the feedback has been positive from the players. | | | | On the women's side Justine Henin is coming off |
| From the men's draw the favourite is of course Roger | | | | another top year but will definitely face some tough |
| Federer who has proven to be a class above the | | | | competition from the William's sisters, Maria Sharapova |
| other players especially in the Grand Slam | | | | and the veteran Lindsay Davenport. With hot |
| tournaments. He should follow up again with another | | | | conditions predicted it will be interesting to see if |
| win after his emotional victory last year. | | | | Sharapova experiences the same heat exhaustion |
| A record number of tennis fans will once again flock to | | | | that she succumbed to last year. Davenports' |
| Melbourne Park to brave the extremely hot weather | | | | experience will get her through to the later stages of |
| conditions. Tennis Australia has already stated that | | | | the tournament but fitness may be questioned when it |
| they will not tolerate any of the fan misbehaviour as | | | | comes to being able to win seven matches in a row. |
| was seen last year. There were violent clashes | | | | Overall the Australian Open brings in record crowds |
| between various groups last year including the | | | | and provides for some great entertainment not only to |
| Serbians and Croatians. There will be a strong police | | | | the die hard tennis fans but also those who enjoy the |
| presence throughout the tennis complex to prevent | | | | social experiences that are found at the open. Live |
| this from happening again. | | | | music, great food and plenty of entertainment always |
| When it comes to tickets the night sessions are still | | | | attracts a diverse group of spectators. |
| very popular and always showcase the top players in | | | | |