Kooyong Classic 2016 Wrap Up

The 2016 Kooyong Classic ran from 12 to 15 January and what a week it was! Here’s my wrap up of the event.

It was certainly a week of classic Melbourne weather with 43 degrees C on Wednesday and then dropping to a cool, windy 19 degrees with a rain delay on Thursday.

Despite the weather the players were in good form, adjusting to Melbourne conditions in readiness for the Australian Open, with David Goffin defeating Feliciano Lopez to win the final.

The tournament organisers did a great job of creating a relaxed, fun atmosphere around the grounds, with food trucks providing a variety of options, Priceline Pharmacy providing mini-manis, mini-massages, health checks, smoothies and more treats and live music at the end of the day’s play.

We enjoyed a great day on the Peter Rowland Terrace on Day One, which is a perfect option if you like to watch the tennis while catching up with friends and enjoying quality refreshments and comfy seat cushions.

Having the player post-match interviews held on Kooyong Common where fans could watch was another of the great initiatives this year. I enjoyed the Q&A sessions, particularly the ones that Pat Cash did, and being able to live stream the interviews via Periscope so that other tennis fans could watch too.

Friends who aren’t avid tennis fans joined me during a few of the evenings at Kooyong after play had finished and they really enjoyed the vibe and entertainment.

Thanks to photographer Morgan Hancock for sharing the photos below. See more of his work on his Facebook page.