Sabine Lisicki Fanpage

Melbourne is so full of memories for me. This was where I played my first grand slam two years ago, when I qualified and reached the third round and I’ll always remember that.

This is my favourite grand slam and I always look forward to coming here. The whole tournament is well organised, we’re right in the city, the people are nice. It’s just a really nice tournament. It is a wonderful city and the fact that the hotel is right in the centre means that it’s very easy to go for a coffee and relax away from the tennis.

I have heard that Melbourne is often described as a very European city and I agree with that. My mum is here for the first time this week and she and I have both felt very comfortable here. She loves it as much as I do. I grew up in Germany.

My favourite thing about the tournament is that the crowd is always really good and people like to come and watch us all play. There is always a great atmosphere and the people seem to be so excited that we are here to play.

I arrived Wednesday last week so I have had some time to adjust to the courts and it was very good. I have been feeling very good on court. I played the Hopman Cup the week before that so I have had lots of time to get over the jetlag and just get used to being here in Australia. Perth was fun too and I enjoyed playing tennis for fun.

That was a great experience and I got to see a few sights there too, including going to Perth Zoo to feed the kangaroos. They are really big – much bigger than I thought they would be – and they are kind of scary but then you touch them and their fur is really soft. It’s a big privilege to see them and a great experience because you don’t get them in Germany.

Here in Melbourne I guess restaurants are the big thing and I went to a really nice one the other day, right on the beach. It’s called the Stoke House and it had a beautiful view looking out over the sea. We ate a lovely dinner and watched the sunset over the water.

I know that you get a cuddly kangaroo or koala when you win the tournament because I have watched it on TV many times when I was growing up in Germany. I always wanted to come here and maybe that’s why it’s always been so special to me. It’s kind of strange to think back to being a kid, all those thousands of miles away from Melbourne, watching players like me. The thing that I remember most is that they always looked really sweaty, which was hard to understand when you are a little kid in freezing Germany!

Match vorschau:

Die erste Runde der Australien Open hat Sabine bravurös in zwei Sätzen mit 6:1, 6:4 gewonnen. Die gebürtige Kroatin P. Matric hatte bei ihren aller ersten Australien Open nie wirklich eine Chance die Partie zu ihren Gunsten zu entscheiden. Nun steht die Zweite Runde vor der Tür! Match Beginn gegen die in der Weltrangliste auf Platz 53 geführte Italienerin Alberta Brianti, wird in der kommenden Nacht so gegen 2:30 Uhr (MEZ) sein. Es ist das erste Aufeinandertreffen von Lisicki vs. Brianti. Eine Sabine in Normalform sollte aber eigentlich keine Probleme haben das Match zu gewinnen! Bienchen, Deine Fans drücken Dir alle ganz fest die Daumen !!!