Don’t mention the date as the Open’s women hold court

Tennis Australia’s lack of interest in doing anything to mark Australia Day at the Open went almost completely unremarked - aside from some half-hearted attempts at culture warfare - in a bad sign for the rapidly dwindling numbers of January 26th loyalists.

But a relatively new tradition at the tournament, Women and Girls Day, looks like it is here to stay as an important date on the Open calendar.

The event attracted big hitters in its first seven years, including former Australian prime minister and current Beyond Blue Chair Julia Gillard, Vogue US editor Anna Wintour, Hollywood star Rebel Wilson, and tennis greats Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki.

Dynamic trio - Mary Coustas, Asher Keddie and Bruna Papandrea.Credit: Instagram

And so it was Piper French champagne and rosè all round at Federation Square’s Zinc on Thursday afternoon with no shortage of star power, including Bruna Papandrea, Hollywood producer of Gone Girl and Big Little Lies arrived, who picked up an AM in the Australia Day honours.

Actor Asher Keddie, aware she was in the presence of greatness, told The Age that, “I won’t bow to anyone but I’d curtsy to that queen”.

Virgin CEO and Tennis Australia chair Jane Hrdlicka said she was emotional talking about the role the women played.

“This has laid the foundation for women around the world to say not good enough,” Hrdlicka said.

Sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins was on familiar ground; she got married at Zinc 18 years ago and while TA officials were scrupulously avoiding the great date debate, tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley, had no intention of ignoring the elephant in the room.

“I would like to see our First Nations people included in our constitution, she told the crowd. “I had to say that on Australia Day.”

Saudi women’s rights activist, cyber security expert and author of Daring to Drive, Manal al-Sharif, was also on hand to share her story with 60 Minutes presenter Tara Brown on hosting duties.

Elsewhere in the crowd was Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, more tennis greats Sam Stosur, Casey Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs, Judy Murray — accomplished coach and Mum and mentor to Andy Murray — comedian Mary Koustas, ABC breakfast presenter Lisa Miller and vocal duo Vika and Linda Bull all in the audience.

LAST POO-RAH

Seem like we’ve been seeing more of Mark Philippoussis this year than we’re used to, but that could just be those UberEats ads.

The PooCredit: AP

Offscreen, the Poo has teamed up with Cypriot hero Marcos Baghdatis - who has managed to acquire legendary status at the Open despite having reached the final just once, in 2006, and was soundly beaten by Roger Federer - for this year’s Men’s Legends’ Doubles comp.

Philippoussis, who is 46-years old, and Baghdatis, a mere whippernsapper at 37, were in action on Thursday on Margaret Court Arena where they managed to relive the golden days long enough to see off the pairing of former world number 2 Tommy Haas and Czech stalwart Radek Stepanek.

But Philippoussis and Baghdatis shouldn’t get carried away. They’re up against the mighty Bryan twins — Bob and Mike — in Friday’s final. The 43-year-old Americans are the tournament’s most prolific doubles champions with wins in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In the women’s legends, former World No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland and Australian Open 2008 semi finalist Daniela Hantuchova from Slovakia rolled back the years on Thursday taking the title with a win over Croatia’s Iva Majoli and former world number 7 Barbara Schett of Austria.

FOND FINALE

Staying with doubles, we look set for a tear-jerker on Friday for the Indian contingent at Melbourne Park as one of their nation’s leading tennis light ends her Open career.

Sania Mirza, who will retire later in the year, and on-court partner Rohan Bopanna will attempt to go out in a blaze of glory when they take on Brazilian pair Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the mixed doubles final.

Both Mirza and Bopanna have been standard-bearers for the sport on the subcontinent; she’s got five grand slams doubles titles, and he’s played men’s doubles semi-finals at the French Open, Wimbledon and even a US Open final back in 2010.

Mirza says she “feels the love” at Melbourne Park, having been welcomed by the city’s Indian diaspora time and again in the 18 years she has been coming here.

“I’m so emotional – I’m not a crier in front of people, but I’m almost there right now,” Mirza told the event’s official media on Thursday.

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