Wednesday is Mailbag day. A few thoughts + Q&A through three days of play at the 2021 Australian Open….All the while marveling: it’s amazing how much less you sweat when you have to get your own damn towels.
1) It’s remarkable that this event is happening. Tennis Australia took a considerable risk—an underarm serve down set point?—when it decided to stage this event, landmines be damned, public backlash be damned. From the logistical challenges, to the government resistance, to the unpredictably of the ruthless opponent that is COVID…there were plenty of why-are-we-undertaking-this? moments. It took a lot of cooperation, more than a little luck, and virtually no sleep on the organizers’ part…but here we are.