First Serve: Morgan Riddle can barely walk a metre at Melbourne Park without being stopped for a picture

Social media star Morgan Riddle’s popularity has skyrocketed in Australia and she says “if life took a very different turn I’d probably move here”.

First Serve is your wrap-up of all the media gossip and banter from the 2025 Australian Open.

Riddle, the queen of tennis influencing, says Melbourne is her favourite sporting city.

With almost 100,000 YouTube subscribers and more than a million followers on Instagram and TikTok, Riddle can barely walk a metre at Melbourne Park without being stopped for a picture.

The partner of American tennis ace Taylor Fritz loves that her popularity has skyrocketed in Australia.

“My second-biggest following is in Australia and I started posting content here, my first TikTok was three years ago,’’ Riddle said.

Morgan Riddle, at the tennis with Ralph Lauren, is the queen of tennis influencing. Picture: Dan Castano

“I’ve only had positive experiences with fans here and I just love it. I’ve got so many friends in Melbourne and Sydney and the events are next level.

“If life took a very different turn I’d probably move here.”

Riddle vowed to eat a jar of Vegemite last year if Fritz kept winning, but this time she is simply cheering for the fourth seed’s success. Last year she attended the Australian Grand Prix and hopes to return to headline the Glamour on the Grid party.

Her “get ready with me” videos have become every girl’s style go-to and she’s developed close friendships with Australian girls Hannah Dal Sasso, Mia Savio and Costeen Hatzi.

Morgan Riddle and Costeen Hatzi at the Bondi Sands event. Picture: Sam Tabone

Riddle with her partner Taylor Fritz. Picture: Getty

They all stepped out on Monday at a Bondi Sands Australian Open launch at the Royal Botanic Gardens – wearing Australian labels.

“I’ve been working with Mecca and I love Australian brands,’’ Riddle said.

“I’m definitely hoping to get back for the Grand Prix and Glamour on the Grid. I love Aussie food and I’m obsessed with Fishbowl and Breath Haus, I did a class with them at the Lume and it had me sobbing.”

Riddle and Fritz have been affected by the LA bushfires and plan to donate money to worthy causes.

“Right now we’re a mile and a half out from the evacuations, we’re just sad because the city won’t be the same,’’ she said. “Everybody we know has been affected and we’re going to donate money to some of our favourite organisations there. It is a little weird being here so far from it, for everyone else it’s just news but for us it’s life.

“This is my fourth year here and I just want to enjoy the tournament and focus on organic content.”

LA fires keep Jim Courier away from first night of AO

Tennis legend Jim Courier was absent from the opening night of the broadcast due to the LA wildfires.

Courier always returns home between the United Cup and the Australian Open and he was just about to get on the plane to Melbourne when the danger closed on his area in Brentwood.

John McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge and Lleyton Hewitt spearheaded the prime time commentary on Sunday night with Josh Eagle doing the on court post-match interview with Alexander Zverev which Courier would normally do.

Pam Shriver is also missing from the ESPN coverage, saying she’s in LA “helping manage my family’s needs”.

Jim Courier is a traditional part of Nine’s Australian Open tennis broadcast team Picture: Supplied

Tennis Australia chair’s unforced error on Lord Mayor

Lord Mayor Nick Reece saw the funny side after accidentally being called the wrong name on opening night.

Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka welcomed a star-studded group of guests to the O hospitality space when she introduced him as ‘Nick Evans’.

Nick Reece watches Aryna Sabalenka on Day 1 of the Australian Open. Picture: Mark Stewart

He bounced up and spoke to the room, proclaiming ‘I’m Nick Reece’.

“As a pretty humble councillor I’m pretty hard to offend,’’ Reece told First Serve.

“I’ve been called a lot of things. This is an amazing event for Melbourne and I reckon we’ll get over a million people through the turnstiles.”

Reece watched the match from the best seat in the house behind the baseline next to Australian actor Rebel Wilson.

“She promised me she’s going to come back to do the premiere of her new movie,’’ Reece said.

Originally published as First Serve: Morgan Riddle can barely walk a metre at Melbourne Park without being stopped for a picture