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by Craig Thomas Back in the mid to late 1980's many Swedish backpackers on holiday in Australia during the Open began a custom of attending in large groups, draped in large Swedish flags, wearing the Swedish colours and having the flag or colours of Sweden painted on their faces. Seated together, they would cheer the Swedish players of the day, sing songs, recite chants and play musical instruments, which were often home made. As the years have passed these Swedish fans have become a tradition, and despite several rivals emerging, namely the Dutch and Croatians, the Swedes are still the masters. The cheering matches which take place when a Swedish player meets a Dutch player are sometimes as entertaining as the match itself, and always conducted in a very friendly atmosphere. The colour and fun they bring to the Open is unique. One of the spectacles at the Australian Open, especially in the first week, are the training sessions of Anna Kournikova. These resemble more or less a mob scene, as hundreds of desperate fans, seeking either a photograph, autograph, or just a glimpse, pack in around the sides of the court. Both Anna's arrival and departure are accompanied by a phalanx of security men, who clear a path for her through the milling throng. On occasions Anna will react to the crowd -- for example, today, when one admiring fan persisted in asking her to marry him, she responded by smiling at him and pointing at her ring finger, an obvious reference to her engagement to Sergei Federov. The climax of the sessions always comes as Anna prepares to leave. The fans surge and scramble, thrusting photos, Australian Open programs, tickets, pieces of paper, tennis balls, those jumbo sized tennis balls, in fact just about anything in Anna's direction in the desperate hope that she will grace it with an autograph. Today Anna signed for a little longer than usual, no doubt thrilling her adoring fans, before being swept to safety by her security attendants. One of the sadder moments to occur at the Open for quite a few years took place today on Court 13. Many people may not realise that this was to be the last tournament for Belgian Sabine Appelmans. Her second round defeat by Denisa Chladkova produced a very emotional scene, Sabine breaking down in tears after the match, as she was congratulated and consoled by several tour players, including her young countrywoman Kim Clijsters. Sabine was interviewed courtside after the match by several television crews and press reporters, and signed autographs for about ten minutes. Sabine has been without doubt one of the most accessible and friendly players on the tour, always very approachable and ready to chat openly with the fans. In her press conference after the match she told how she now plans to tour Australia with her husband and return to her television work, but whatever she does she will be sorely missed on the WTA tour. And on the subject of Belgian players and their significant others, 18-year-old Justine Henin announced in her press conference after her second round victory that she is engaged to her boyfriend, Hardene Pierre Yves. When questioned as to when the wedding would be, she replied, "Within the next two years". We shall see! |