Australian Open trophies visit Murrindindi Shire communities

THE excitement of the Australian Open (AO) spread to regional Victoria, with AO on the Road visiting Yea, Alexandra and Terip Terip last week as part of the 2027 Australian Open trophy tour. Local communities had the opportunity to see and hold the iconic Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup up close, take part in tennis activities, meet Australian tennis legend and former Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald and celebrate the sport ahead of the year's first Grand Slam. The visit forms part of the Australian Tennis Foundation's Rally as One program, an initiative established to support communities impacted by natural disasters through free community events, tennis experiences and activities that foster connection, resilience and wellbeing. The AO on the Road program connects regional communities with the Australian Open while helping inspire the next generation of players and encouraging participation in tennis at all levels. In Alexandra last Thursday, Alexandra and Yarck CFA brigades and Alexandra SES showed off their equipment alongside the event, with UGFM broadcasting on-site. The clubrooms were packed at Yea last Friday with Yea Tennis Club members turning out in force to see the trophies and hear John Fitzgerald speak. Despite rainy conditions, there was still a massive turnout at Terip Terip last Saturday, with the community also celebrating 100 years of the Terip Terip Tennis Club alongside the AO on the Road event. All three events included a one-point slam, with people able to sign up and play in an elimination-style tournament. Competitors had just one point to make their mark, with the winner progressing to the next round. The overall winners of the one-point slams will be invited to the Australian Open to compete in another one-point elimination-style tournament for the chance to win $1 million. AO on the Road is delivered by Tennis Australia and Tennis Victoria, with support from the Victorian Government.