The tennis world is a bubble, a nomadic bubble at that.
Like the circus, the players travel far and wide, performing to delighted crowds the world over. Sometimes they deliver, other times they don’t.
It’s a performance—they are performers. And with that pressure you are allowed certain indulgent concessions.
So, what do you need if you spend most of your year jumping on and off planes, checking in and out of hotels and comparing room-service menus from continent to continent?
Apart from that nifty multi-international adaptor to charge your iPhone, iPad or favorite tech gadget, they have their posse, or as we see them… an entourage.
Rock stars’ entourages will get that backstage pass. In Tennis Land that would be a seat in the coveted Players Box.
All rock stars have hot partners who will watch them perform, glassy-eyed, full of admiration.
Andy Roddick has the attractive Brooklyn Decker. Novak Djokovic has his beautiful Serbian girlfriend, Jelena. Andy Murray has his British rose Kim Sears. Maria Sharapova has her NBA star Sasha Vujacic, Caroline Wozniacki has golf genius Rory McIlroy, while the very hot Ana Ivanovic has her even hotter boyfriend golfer Adam Scott.
Then you have the stage parents or family. The Williams family, Andy Murray’s mum Judy, grimacing or grinning with every bad or good shot. Rafa’s uncle and coach Tony—full of tough love for the Spaniard.
It’s easy to see why these people are so important to a player on tour. They are a piece of home. A security blanket and everybody likes to feel safe. No matter how bad-ass or famous you are.
It’s totally show biz.
Then there are the fans. If you’re on site and suddenly there is a kerfuffle; a swarm of people heading in one direction with a great sense of urgency, it’s one of three things—Federer, Rafa or Djokovic.
They walk quickly, with purpose and more impressively surrounded by burly men, in suits and wiggly wires coming out from their ears. Every rock star’s essential accessory—security.
The fans are civil but definitely on a mission to get that photo they can post on Facebook. All good groupies throw underwear and I recall interviewing a certain Japanese player who also said he was once given a pair of knickers by a fan.
Rock stars always have riders. A list of necessary items they need on tour or in a venue. Those important things such as white roses, Evian water to bathe in or the room spritzed with vanilla every time they enter.
Tennis players aren’t too different. However, instead of bathing in Evian, they need to chug it down by the gallons. While Mariah Carey may need a massage pre-performance, it is crucial tennis players spend time with their masseuse after every match.
While J.Lo may eat only purple papayas grown from the soil of Timbuktoo, Novak will be one very upset sportsman if he doesn’t have only gluten-free food.
As we head into the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, it’s not only the tennis that is captivating but the energy that surrounds some of the bigger names. The Australian papers will be full of sightings of various personalities.
Rafa may be seen at Nobu. Murray will no doubt be also seen in another Japanese restaurant, and the romantic couples will be “papped” as they stroll along the streets of Melbourne.
Rock stars. But instead of guitars they have tennis racquets—gotta love it.
Paula Malai Ali will be covering the Australian Open in Melbourne. Catch it on Star Sports and on ESPN HD in high definition from Jan. 16.