With the Australian Open madness already decending on our sleepy little town, yesterday’s Kooyong Classic was a welcome introduction the the tennis season in Melbourne. Temperatures were predicted to be thirty degrees and just stepping outside in the morning I could tell we were in for a hot and windy day.

Last year was my first visit to Kooyong and though I have never ventured to European shores, I imagine Kooyong tries to take a page out of Wimbeldon’s book. Garden chairs and umbrellas, champagne and Pimms, stawberries and cream – all the makings of a gorgeous summers day in the English countryside.

Play was set to kick off at 1 so my companions and I headed off around 11 to the suburbs where the grass is greener, the beer more expensive and the liklihood of seeing fashionable folk much higher.

I went with denim shorts, a loose singlet top and a sunhat, though it appeared Maxi dresses were the order of the day once we arrived. Havianas were the shoe du jour, while hats of all shapes and sizes graced the heads of the tennis going sunsmart folk. Fashion faux par of the day goes to the girl in the white sundress in the queue for the ladies loo – one should always check in the mirror before leaving home – an unlined white dress plus a dark coloured g-string will always give the boys plenty to ‘talk’ about.

There was a game or two of tennis played, I believe the Aussie won the exhibition match while the underdog got up in the main event, but the tennis is much more fun when you go with your mates, sit in the sun sipping champagne and having a laugh.

Most of the food and drink is overpriced and our seats were in the back row of the grandstand but for one day we felt a bit like part of the sophisticated royalty of the inner city suburbs in Melbourne.

The Aus Open will kick off tomorrow with a bang, and you can be assured that this tennis event has none of the class or cool of Kooyong. I encourage anyone who hasn’t visited to head down for an evening on a ground pass – the event is plenty of fun and if the weather is in your favour hours can be spent on the grass watching the big screen, beer in hand.

Pick your favourite – be it the Aussie or the guy who looks best in his tennis whites – and support the tennis. In Melbourne, January is all about those yellow balls, late nights and who will be the first to chuck thier racquet. Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi OI!