As another tournament date arrives, so do the big names and celebrities that appreciate the sporting action as much as the loyal spectators. And as the stars came out to Melbourne Park, they took a back seat to the main attraction as the players took center stage.
Celebrities from the sports and entertainment industry have always made their presence felt at the Oz Open. Actress Charlize Theron, singer Olivia Newton-John, and swimmer Ian Thorpe have been previous attendees.
This year, teenage golfing sensation, Michelle Wie, arrived in Melbourne and was around to catch Serena Williams’ opening round match, take in the sights and um, watch the Marat Safin vs. Andy Roddick match too.
Wie was in Australia after she failed to make the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where she was upstaged by another teenager, Tadd Fujikawa.
New Zealand soul singer Jade MacRae was also on hand to entertain the fans at Melbourne Park as well as to be entertained herself.
Business mogul Sir Richard Branson is no stranger to tennis (It was reported that Maria Sharapova is one of the many celebs to have vacationed at his private Caribbean retreat, the famed Necar Island). He took time out to hang with a local wallaby along with Kim Clijsters, Dmitry Tursunov, and countryman – well, sort of – Andy Murray.
And Tommy Haas’ box had reason to celebrate as the former World. No. 2 reached the semifinals of the event. Gone from his entourage is Sandy Meyer Woelden, his on-again-off-again model girlfriend, who was present at the US Open, and with whom he shared a steamy Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue shoot back in 2002. In is actress-model (shocker) Sara Foster, who has starred in “The Big Bounce,” “Entourage,” and the Back Street Boys video for “Shape of My Heart.” Foster, who has gone brunette, has been a fixture in the German’s box all week.