Meeting Evonne Goolagong-Cawley at the Morning Tea With the Stars, in Melbourne.

Morning Tennis Tea
By Stan Morse
January 20, 1998

Australians love their sport, and vigorously support it. Tennis is a perfect example. Each year, the women raise money for their Federation Cup team by hosting a morning tea, inviting former and present women tennis players as the principal attraction.

I've had this dream of meeting Evonne Goolagong-Cawley. Today, it happened at the "Morning Tea With The Stars". Not that we talked at length and got to know each other. The Tea was far too busy, there were far too many people who also wanted to meet this famous tennis player.

Frankly, I was nervous. But Evonne was kind enough to stand for a photo, kind enough to listen for a few seconds about my travel project, and she set me at ease. In person, she is larger than her legend. A gentle human being who carries her greatness with a caring heart. And I feel fortunate, beyond words, to have met her.

If you ever come to Melbourne for the Australian Tennis Open, attend the Tea that the Australian Federation Cup Tennis Foundation puts on at the Hilton on the Park. I mean, really. Gabrielle Sabatini came. As did a number of up-and-coming Australian women players. And the charismatic top Australian woman tennis player in a wheelchair (winner of 1997's U.S. Wheelchair Tennis Open), Daniela Di Toro, spoke and entertained the audience with her humor and candor.

Which reminds me, also take in at least one day of the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Open, which immediately follows the regular Open. It's free. It's fun. And those athletes try just as hard to achieve victory on the very same tennis courts. Other major tournaments also have wheelchair competitions in conjunction with the "regular" tennis. Check them out.

As if the company this morning weren't enough, there was a sumptuous buffet of fruit and pastries. And tucked into my envelope with the ticket for the Tea, was a grounds pass for today's tennis. The Tea ticket cost $35.00; if I'd had to purchase a grounds pass at the Tennis Center it would have cost $15.00. So the bottom line was that I got to meet Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Gabrielle Sabatini, Daniela Di Toro, and enjoy an excellent buffet, for $20.00 -- and that's Australian! At current exchange rates, about $13.00 U.S. Now is that a bargain, or what?! I almost feel guilty. Almost . . . .

Well, today certainly wasn't the most challenging of my adventures on this trip. But it sure was a thrill.

Over the next two weeks I'll share some insights about the Australian Tennis Open -- and Melbourne -- in a few short pieces. So log on often to catch the most recent update!