Aussies bask in pride of wearing Green and Gold
From debutants to grande dames, Australia’s tennis contingent at Tokyo 2020 covers the full spectrum of the Olympic experience – and with news breaking on the eve of the Games that Brisbane will be the host city in 2032, those in green and gold were in celebratory mood before a ball had been hit at Ariake Tennis Park this week.
John Millman, Brisbane born and bred, was the first Australian winner on Day 1 of the Olympic Tennis Event, fending off a fightback from Italian rising star Lorenzo Musetti to win 6-3 6-4 and set up a second-round clash with young Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The 32-year-old was brimming with pride afterwards, not only for his mentality while dragged into a dogfight in the latter stages of a match played in the sweltering conditions on Day 1 of the Games, but also for being back at his second Olympics – a goal ever since his first foray at Rio 2016 five years ago.
“All the guys here, we’re not playing for points or prize money, we’re playing for the pride of pulling on your national colours,” Millman said. “It’s the ultimate festival of sport, it’s the ultimate experience. I know when I played in Rio, I just hoped and wished that I could get another Olympic Games experience.
“I know it’s a little bit different and that’s a shame, because they’ve done an incredible job in Japan. They love their sport, they love getting behind athletes, and the stadiums, wherever you look, are just incredible.”
Millman admitted he was thrilled when news broke that his home town would be Australia’s third Olympic host city in nine years’ time.
“I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world, and I think that there’s no place like home,” Millman said. “I’m extremely biased, but I think that Brisbane is one of the best cities around. I think that it’s extremely under-rated, and the world is going to meet a special place come 2032. I won’t be playing, I can tell you that! But I hope I’m involved in some capacity.”
“It’s exciting for the city, it’s exciting for Australia,” added world No. 1 Ash Barty, who grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane. “I know it’s a few years away, but to bring that excitement just prior to playing here in Tokyo is awesome.”
Barty and Storm Sanders made their competitive Olympic debuts together in the women’s doubles, racing to a 6-1 6-2 victory over Japan’s Nao Hibino and Makoto Ninomiya in just 50 minutes to quickly escape the scorching temperatures.
“That’s always a bonus,” Sanders said. “All we can do is go out there and focus on each point, and it ended up being a quick match in this heat, which is great. It was our first Olympic Games together, and it was great fun to represent the green and gold out there.”
“Playing with my childhood friend in what is a dream for both of us is really cool,” said Barty, fresh from her Wimbledon triumph and one day ahead of her opening singles clash with Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo.
“And to be here in some of the most unique circumstances I think ever for an Olympic Games, it’s really awesome for us,” she added. “We’re very grateful and thankful that we’re able to be here to play and to experience what is a really cool Games. For four of us it’s our first time, and then we’ve got Sam [Stosur] at her fifth Olympic Games, which is absolutely remarkable. To be able to share that with her makes it extra special.”
Stosur, who fell 6-4 6-2 to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the first round, has adopted the role of team leader among the Aussies, a position she cherishes as she shares her experience with the new crop of Olympians.
“I think I probably don’t realise it as much as it happens,” Stosur said. “I feel this week they’re all looking to me to say what’s going on – ‘Is this meant to be like this? What do we do now?’ It’s a cool thing for me to have all this experience behind me, and now they’re actually looking for that. It’s something I’m proud of, and I’ll do anything I can to support them.”
Stosur will partner Ellen Perez, another Olympic first-timer, in the doubles, where they face Jelena Ostapenko and Anastasija Sevastova in the first round.
“Ellen and I have played together three or four times before,” Stosur said, noting it was a similar story for the Latvian duo. “First and foremost, we’ll back each other and support each other out there and know that if we do everything as a team then we’ve got a good chance.”
It speaks to the matehood among the Australian tennis community that even those who couldn’t make the trip to Tokyo 2020 were showing their support from afar. Millman revealed that Alex de Minaur had been in touch to wish him luck this week, a bittersweet moment for them both given the youngster’s withdrawal after producing a positive Covid test shortly before the Games.
“I’ve touched base with Alex a couple of times just to check in on him,” Millman said. “He looks fit – he was running up hills, I saw him doing some hill sprints the other day.
“It’s extremely unfortunate for him. I’ve been lucky enough to have quite a close relationship with Alex – he’s a little brother to me on tour, one of my best mates. The thing I love about him is, when he walks on the court in the green and gold, he takes his game to other levels. He’s an incredible kid and an incredible representation of what it means to play for Australia.
“I’m sure he’ll get a couple of experiences, and I’m sure he’s earmarked to play a home Olympic Games, because that’s everyone’s dream.”