The one thing that’s made Peter Bol even better; Mason Cox turns cub reporter

Peter Bol says there is a single, simple reason why his running has drastically improved.

“I have been running so much better just by being happier and seeing a different perspective on life,” the Sudanese-Australian athlete says. “I always say a happy runner is a performing runner, and she brings me so much joy.”

Proud father Peter Bol shows off a photo of fiancee Mahtut Yaynu and baby Reyna. Credit: Eddie Jim

That “she” is baby Reyna, born last year to Bol and his Ethiopian-born fiancee, Mahtut Yaynu.

Bol became famous in the lead-up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, coming fourth in the 800m final by a split second.

In January 2023 his life was thrown into turmoil when he was provisionally suspended by Athletics Australia after failing an out-of-competition doping test. He was later officially cleared, but he failed to qualify for the 800m final in Paris last year.

“There’s a lot more joy in life. I thought I had all the joy I needed before, but this was pretty special,” Bol said, speaking before lunch at the Ralph Lauren marquee.

“I want to be hands-on with my daughter. I am waking up in the morning and doing everything with purpose.”

The middle distance runner, who grew up in Western Australia, aims to race at the Adelaide Invitational next month ahead of the World Championships in late September in Tokyo, where, yes, Bol plans to take his family along for the ride.

Move over, working journalists

There are thousands of accredited media at the Australian Open, but a novice reporter is set to join their ranks – star Collingwood footballer Mason Cox.

“The reporting gig? It’s called Blue Zone,” Cox told Open Season in the Emirates marquee once we had persuaded the 211-centimetre (six feet, 11 inch) Texan-born AFL player to sit down.

Mason Cox (left) and fellow Collingwood footballer Dan Houston in the Emirates marquee at the Australian Open on Tuesday. Credit: Chris Hopkins

“I start on Tuesday. I’m on from 6pm to 9pm. It’s like a live watch party kind of thing. So just give people a bit of a vibe with the Australian Open. The feeling is like, someone’s there watching it with you.”

Cox, who is keen to diversify his skills, will do interviews for the online show, organised by the AO, which will pay attention to the matches but also to food, entertainment and other things the tournament is keen to showcase.

Sounds like the US-born Cox, a regular guest of Nova radio, will be a cadet reporter?

Mark Philippoussis has revealed tennis isn’t the be all and end all for his children.Credit: Chris Hopkins

“Yeah, for fun. But it’s real loose. Everything’s live.”

The Emirates lounge was decked out in red and white, themed to showcase the airline’s top European destinations, including Dublin, London, Athens, Paris and Edinburgh. Emirates served guests blinis with caviar, sparkling wine and cut wheels of cheese from a trolley.

Other Melebrities included Rob Mills, Lindy Klim, Joel Creasey, Daniel Gorringe, and media presenters Jacqui and Michael Felgate, who arrived with a very AO accessory: two jars of M&Ms (an event sponsor).

Former Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis, a US Open and Wimbledon finalist known by his nickname of “The Scud”, did a lightning quick circuit of the lounge before heading off to commentate on Aussie hope Alexei Popyrin’s match against France’s Corentin Moutet.

He revealed his two children were enthusiastic about sport but there was little chance of a junior Scud rising through the tennis ranks.

“They were born in the States and they were doing all the camps, basketball camps, soccer camps, baseball camps, tennis camps,” he says.

“I asked [my son] over a year ago when he was nine and I just said, ‘Which sport do you prefer?’ and he said, ‘Basketball.’ So I said ‘OK let’s focus on basketball.’”

Novak Djokovic, tournament director

Novak Djokovic has revealed he has a hotline to Australian Open boss Craig Tiley and isn’t afraid to use it.

Tennis players are keen to play prime-time evening matches, when crowds and television viewing audiences are at their biggest. And the courtside temperature drops.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Djokovic, who is almost always scheduled to play night matches, was asked what his preferred playing time was.

“Whatever they schedule me, I have to accept,” the former world No.1 said before making it very clear that he is not averse to a bit of lobbying.

Novak Djokovic practising on Tuesday.Credit: Eddie Jim

“I think I earned my right to also have, I guess, communication with the tournament management where I can express what I would like, depending on a given day, depending on the opponent,” Djokovic said. “There’s, of course, communication. I’m not the only player that’s communicating with the tournament director.”

As we reported last year, midday each day, decisions about the time and location of matches are made in the scheduling room by Tiley, tournament referee Wayne McKewen, representatives of the men’s and women’s tours, the ATP and WTA, player representatives and key broadcasters and media rights holders.

“Tiley has the final say and crucially, journalists and players themselves, are not involved,” we wrote. Except, perhaps, if your name is Novak Djokovic?

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.