Where do Australian Open players stay in Melbourne?
The days of spotting Australian Open competitors shopping around Ormond Road Elwood, Glenferrie Road Hawthorn or in Toorak Village, are gone.
Whereas in the 1990s, grand slam players such as Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg and Steffi Graf would lease homes in suburbs like Brighton, Elwood, or Toorak – today’s tennis stars are by and large opting for inner-city hotels.
Reigning mens single champ Roger Federer – who was once reportedly based at a Mount Eliza property abutting the Ranelagh Club – now stays at Crown Casino.
Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova and Vanessa and Serena Williams are also know to stay at that Southbank venue.
Amelie Mauresmo has set up at South Yarra’s Como hotel before – about two kilometres south east of Melbourne Park (story continues below).
The Lyall, also in that suburb, has hosted players too.
“Nowadays, wealthy home owners just don’t need the money so prefer not to take the risk of letting an entourage stay at their home,” one prestige residential leasing agent said.
“Also, most top tennis players are single, or do not travel with family, so they prefer penthouse city apartments to a home on land with a pool and tennis court”.
