One US columnist said ‘women fell for him like ninepins and when he went to Hollywood, male film stars went and sulked in Nevada.
It shouldn’t be a surprise in a very country with such competitive instincts that the 2 cities are slugging it out for thus long (Melbourne hosted her own successful athletic contest in 1956). within the nineteenth century, Melbourne enjoyed a gold rush and therefore the world’s highest per capita champagne consumption and, despite the Victorian grandeur, was a busy port choked with high-rollers adopting fairly low morals. Then the town developed a rep for being too British, whereas vivacious Sydney player the sequential waves of immigrants seeking the nice life in Oz.
There are some unpleasant sights to behold when the camera crosses idly over the crowd at SW19 – giant Union Jack headwear, portly gentlemen spilling Moet on their trousers, Alex Ferguson… but thankfully, it’s not all bad.
Tennis players, like footballers, Formula 1 drivers – hell, any young, rich, male athlete – seem to have the incredible knack of ending up with stunning wives and girlfriends to sit on the sidelines, chewing their nails and cheering them on. No, we can’t figure it out either.
Now, the Ugg’s on the opposite foot. Melbourne is as inventive a town as any at once, with hip eateries, gig venues, galleries and speakeasies stoning up faster than you’ll say “strewth”.