The Tennis Traveler: Spot your favorite players in Melbourne

Each January, Melbourne erupts as people flood in to see Grand Slam-level tennis in person. Although the city is gorgeous and the tournament contagious, there’s another reason why fans travel over fifteen hours across the entire planet.

The players, of course!

There isn’t a single fan who has traveled for a two-week tournament that isn’t hoping to run into tennis players on the street. And Melbourne just might be the best place to spot them.

In terms of where players are staying, The Olsen and Crown Towers are two player populated stays, with the first known to house the Williams sisters and the latter frequenting a variety of Top 10 players.

When touring Melbourne, players have been spotted along the infamous Yarra River, Albert Park Lake and Collins St. All three are within walking distance of Melbourne Park and are otherwise notable locations themselves that are worth visiting. (Check out Top 5 things to do in Melbourne for more notable happenings in and around the city.)

As dining venues go, Nobu, Rockpool, Spice Templle and Koko are four standout favorites among players. They all sit on Yarra Promenade within walking distance of the tennis grounds, with plenty of other culinary options nearby.

A little out of the way from Melbourne proper is the little strip of Elwood Beach that Emma Raducanu has frequented. She enjoys dining at top-rated modern Australian restaurant Elwood Bathers while there.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is also known for his local travels in Melbourne, as the Greek community embraces him fondly year after year. In fact, Tsitsipas teamed up with famous Greek restaurant Stalactites to create his own limited-time signature souvlaki

Craving Greek? Pick up the Aussie Open exclusive souvlaki, filled with lamb, tomato tzatziki, pomegranate, mint, crumbled feta and chips.

With a bit of luck and a pair of binoculars or two, player spottings can quite literally take place all around the city. Make sure to visit these places in Melbourne regardless, but definitely keep an eye out for players during the next two weeks.