Leaders chill out at sizzling grand slam Open tennis final

Josh Frydenberg and wife Amie with Claire Campbell and Ryan Stokes. Picture: David Geraghty

Seven boss Tim Worner didn’t miss Roger Federer this year at the Australian Open men’s final. Worner — who kept away from last year’s epic final as Amber Harrison blazed on — was there last night with wife Katrina to watch Swiss legend Federer defeat Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

Gillon and Laura McLachlan with Tim and Katrina Worner. Picture: David Geraghty

The couple were joined by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and his wife Laura, and News Corp executive chair in Australia Michael Miller and his wife Tonya. In front of them were Seven scion Ryan Stokes and his wife Claire Campbell who entertained Josh Frydenberg and his wife Amie. The Member for Kooyong, enjoying a cold beer and his favourite sport before the parliamentary year begins, was one of Stokes’s groomsmen at the couple’s wedding. And in the row behind Worner was TV producer, author and comedian Andrew Denton, who has a new show on Seven, and his journo wife Jennifer Byrne.

Michael and Tonya Miller. Picture: David Geraghty.

Over the net

A mighty entourage watched from the front row, looking over the next, all the better to watch Federer’s incredible mastery of physics.

Andy Penn and wife Kallie Blauhorn. Picture: David Geraghty

Paula Dwyer and Kelvin Barry. Picture: David Geraghty

There was Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted, the day before the bank submits its royal commission homework, next to UBS boss Matthew Grounds and wife Kimberley, Telstra chief Andy Penn and his gallerist wife Kallie Blauhorn, a few along from Tabcorp chairman Paula Dwyer, her UBS ­adviser Kelvin Barry (who ­impressed his boss Grounds last year with his $11 billion Tabcorp-Tatts success) and Suncorp chief executive Michael Cameron.

Jayne’s crew

Chairman Jayne Hrdlicka was popular as ever over in her Tennis Australia stand, with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and wife

Catherine on her left and Aussie tennis legend Rod Laver on her right. Victorian Governor Linda Dessau was also in the Tennis Australia front row, while Health Minister Greg Hunt and wife Paula sat next to Victorian Sports Minister John Eren.

Greg and Paula Hunt at last night’s tennis. Picture: David Geraghty

Also in the Tennis Australia stand were deputy chairman Harold Mitchell and Energy Australia chairman Graham Bradley. Also there were PM Turnbull’s head mandarin Martin Parkinson and Barnaby Joyce’s deputy Nationals leader and Sports Minister, Bridget McKenzie.

King’s court

Jayne Hrdlicka (the former Qantas executive, who has just begun as the CEO of the booming, China-focused A2 Milk) had as her personal guest tennis legend, and feminist icon, Billie Jean King the night before to watch Caroline Wozniacki, 27, finally break her grand slam curse, winning her first against Romania’s Simona Halep.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and wife Lynne with Tennis Australia President Jayne Hrdlicka and Billie Jean King. Picture: David Geraghty.

On Hrdlicka’s other side was the Queen’s man Down Under, our Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and wife Lynne.

Hot shots

Over in Seven’s Saturday front row, Telstra chairman John Mullen sat next to Seven scion Ryan Stokes — who, along with his military history-loving father Kerry, chipped in to Mullen’s $1 million search operation for the AE1 submarine, which after 103 years and 12 previous searches was found last month.

John Mullen, Ryan Stokes and wife Claire with Richard Goyder and wife Janine. Picture: David Geraghty.

Stokes’s wife Claire was on his other side, next to Qantas director Richard Goyder and wife Janine. The former Wesfarmers CEO Goyder is the chairman of Seven’s other sporting jewel, the AFL.

Shayne Elliott with Ruby O’Brien after the women’s final on Saturday. Picture David Geraghty

Also in the house, billionaire pill popper Marcus Blackmore, whose eponymous listed company is an Australian Open sponsor, Malcolm Turnbull’s new Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation Craig Laundy with wife Suzie, and ANZ boss Shayne Elliott — a man who looks like he packs a mighty tennis serve — who shared the prize-giving stage with seven-year-old Ruby O’Brien, the bespectacled and pigtailed tennis prodigy and winner of ANZ Tennis Hot Shot of the Year nominee.