Way early for tennis.......but it's on and some of the best are playing.....

[a kennedy]

it’s the pre tennis season.... Australian Open starts next week......lotsa good young Americans going to be there. This pre “game” series has been spectacular.

[empedocles]

1. You are a tennis FAN!

Back when my son was a tennis ballboy at the DC venue for the men's tour, we shared some of those kind of background details. Son was a big Agassi fan - bandanna etc.

[Son got into the University of his choice on tennis, however, ended his career there after a few weeks of the tennis athlete hours/travel grind].

[tishaLA]

2. Yesterday, S. Williams said she'd donate

all her prize money and each of her dresses she wears this week at ASB to help fund the bushfire relief efforts.

Link to tweet

[a kennedy]

3. Saw that the check was like 43,000 dollars.......

Not a lot but the gesture was so great. Love ya Serena.......and love her 2 year old toddler......

[Raftergirl]

5. One of the comms

Speculated that what she has worth in her tennis bag is probably way more than the $43K she earned in prize money. I image she’s got a watch in there that’s several hundreds of thousands of $.

But nice gesture by her and all the other players donating $.

[Raftergirl]

4. I've been watching since ATP Cup

started and WTA Brisbane/Aukland.

Now watching Hobart/Adelaide/ATP Aukland and AO qualies.

Not a fan of many of the US players (lots of Trumpers in that group - especially on the men’s side.)

I love the beginning of new season - except for suffering from jet lag without leaving the country.

It’s also a fantastic diversion from the shitstorm in the WH.