Corporate champions in tennis match-ups

Ryan Stokes and his wife Claire watch the 2019 mens final tennis match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Aaron Francis

Over there, ANZ boss Shayne Elliott surrounded by billionaires.

Over here, NAB’s banker-most-likely Mike Baird filling in for Andrew “Endless Summer” Thorburn.

And, behind the fast food king “Hungry” Jack Cowin, isn’t that Ryan Stokes?

Yes, there were rich rewards for those who — like Margin Call — packed their trusty binoculars for finals weekend at the Australian Open.

And how about the on-court action?

“It was terrific,” the tennis-mad Meriton boss Harry Triguboff told us after the Japanese crowd favourite Naomi Osaka beat the tenacious Czech Petra Kvitova. Followed by a showdown between Grand Slam titans Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, this weekend Rod Laver Arena was heaven for tennis fans.

Harry and Rhonda Triguboff. Picture: David Geraghty.

And for watchers of our political and business elite, the jewel of the Tennis Australia empire was filled with clues about the year ahead.

Wishful thinking

Peter Costello was along on Sunday night to preside over hosting duties for enlarged media outfit Nine, which this year replaced Kerry Stokes’ Seven as Tennis Australia’s local broadcaster.

Kelly O'Dwyer and husband Jon Mant. Picture: David Geraghty.

Over the summer the Liberal grandee has become the subject of much wish-fulfilment following the decision by Kelly O’Dwyer, his former staffer turned successor in Higgins, to end her political career at the May federal election.

A gaggle of Liberals dream Costello could be lured back to his old seat to take the fight to Bill Shorten.

But watching Costello courtside at the men’s final — where he hosted Suncorp CEO Michael Cameron (while his former staffer turned Communications Minister Mitch Fifield watched, a world away, with Hamish and Andy) — was to see the absurdity of their scheme.

Mitch Fifield sits close to radio duo Hamish and Andy. Picture Aaron Francis.

The former Treasurer doesn’t much like tennis. But Costello appears to be enjoying his chairman duties of the Fairfax-swallowing media outfit.

As for O’Dwyer, the departing Morrison government minister and her investment banker husband Jon Mant were guests of Nine CEO Hugh Marks the night before at the women’s final, along with Nine director Catherine West, NRL boss Todd Greenberg and new Today show co-anchor Deborah Knight (who was backing up from a matinee performance of yeehaw musical Calamity Jane; apparently, it’s great).

Life without Thorburn

ANZ boss Shayne Elliott hosted much of the Rich List in Rod Laver Arena.

In the ANZ patch were Triguboff, the spritely 85-year-old (worth $12.8 billion on the Stens­holt Index), who was along with his wife Rhonda.

Also in the enclosure, Domino’s billionaire Cowin (worth $2.41bn).

And while no longer the event’s broadcaster, yep there was Seven scion Stokes with his wife Claire. That’s one way of not watching the game on Nine!

Lindsay Fox and his wife with Shayne Elliott. Picture: Aaron Francis.

Sitting right next to Elliott was the trucking billionaire himself: Lindsay Fox.

Meanwhile, the richest fan — Visy cardboard king Anthony Pratt, at last count worth $12.9bn — was literally on the court on Sunday with Lion boss Stuart Irvine. Befitting Australia’s richest person, those are the most expensive seats in the house. Representing Melbourne’s other big four bank NAB was Mike Baird, who has been by far the highest-profile banker over the summer break.

Anthony Pratt, with Stuart Irving. Picture: Aaron Francis

Baird — who with his wife Kerryn and hosted Herald & Weekly Times chair Penny Fowler — has been notably prominent while his damaged boss Andrew Thorburn contemplates his future in pinstripes during an unusual career sabbatical.

Nothing subtle at Optus

For a moment we thought our binoculars must be trained on a meeting of Bill Shorten’s shadow cabinet.

Mark Dreyfus, Brendan O'Connor, Michael Chaaya, Michelle Rowland, Paul O'Sullivan, Richard Marles and Rachel Schutze. Picture: David Geraghty..

But no, it was the privileged patch of Paul O’Sullivan’s Optus. Surrounding the Optus chair at the women’s final were the opposition spokeswoman for communications Michelle Rowland, shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus, workplace relations spokesman Brendan O’Connor and shadow defence spokesman Richard Marles.

Josh Frydenberg with his wife Amie and Paul O'Sullivan. Picture: Aaron Francis.

O’Sullivan reversed the trick for the Nadal-Djokovic showdown, hosting tanned Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and his wife Amie and Canberra’s chief mandarin power couple Martin Parkinson and Heather Smith.

Ahmed Fahour and his new partner Hannah Holmes. Picture: Aaron Francis.

Also with Optus, Latitude Financial’s born-again banker Ahmed Fahour, who was along with his new partner Hannah Holmes.

Over the net on the other side of the court, UBS boss Matthew Grounds was giving his clientele — BHP’s Ken MacKenzie, Transurban’s Scott Charlton, Telstra’s Andy Penn — his signature rock star treatment.

Telstra CEO Andy Penn, Matthew Grounds, Ken Mackenzie, Paula Dwyer and Scott Charleton. Picture: Aaron Francis.

Gandel in sunny mood

Watching over the business end of yet another record-breaking Australian Open was CEO of milk-company A2 Jayne Hrdlicka, whose extra-curricular gig as president of Tennis Australia has made her an increasingly popular figure on the corporate scene.

For the final session, she again hosted master of the Vogue universe Anna Wintour and Wintour’s signature bob (who earlier in the day were at an intimate event hosted at designer Fiona Myer and her richie husband Sidney’s Toorak mansion).

A few rows back on Hrdlicka’s left hand-side was Graham Bradley, chair of agricultural giant and takeover target Graincorp. More on that takeover situation in the near future.

Pauline and John Gandel. Picture: David Geraghty.

And a few rows on Hrdlicka’s right hand-side was Australia’s seventh richest person John Gandel, who on Saturday night was earnestly waving Japan’s sunny flag. The Chadstone shopping centre mogul Gandel — last valued at $6.45bn — was along with his wife Pauline, a serious collector of Japanese art. For proof, pop into the Pauline Gandel Gallery of Japanese Art at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Life after Bishop?

On the other side of the arena, Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie was with the Emirates posse, not far from the nation’s highest-profile backbencher Julie Bishop. The former foreign minister, now humble member for Curtin was along with her partner David Panton (a semi-professional ocean swimmer) and editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia, Edwina McCann.

Julie Bishop, David Panton and Vogue editor Edwina McCann. Picture: David Geraghty.

All summer rumours have swirled — denied by Bishop — that she is delaying her imminent political retirement to thwart rival WA Liberal Christian Porter’s plans to hop into her seat (which is much safer than his embattled Pearce). There’s also chatter — of unverified accuracy — linking her to an overseas posting worthy of a former foreign minister. We’ll have to look further than Rod Laver Arena for clues on that.