US sportswear brand New Balance has acquired an Australian accent to rival Kate Winslet’s in The Dressmaker and Dev Patel’s in Lion. T-shirts emblazoned with the courtside chant “Aussie Aussie Aussie” in lurid green and gold raise a smile faster than watching a rival country drop a point. If your allegiances are torn, there’s a plain T-shirt with the AO logo and some fitted women’s shorts that might have some players wondering what in the world they’re doing still wearing a pleated skirt.
Graphic T-shirt, $60; women’s shorts, $90.

Love all

Ralph Lauren’s domination of tennis apparel at Wimbledon, the US Open and Australia’s premier tennis event has led to a plethora of branded merch. Here’s a round-up of our fave Ts:

Court appearance

Seventies style has inspired Gucci designer Sabato De Sarno’s capsule collection of tennis essentials. Along with a new duffle bag, racquet backpack, racquet bag and shoe holder comes a tennis dress that’s perfect for winning off-court trend tournaments. The sleek, white silhouette and box pleats whisper quiet luxury, with the dress relying on a discreet logo and web stripe details to signal its Italian heritage. The Gucci Tennis collection, which debuted in Paris during the French Open, will only be available in Gucci’s Melbourne boutiques during the Australian Open. Gucci Tennis ivory pleated dress with embroidery, $3350.

Watching brief

Canadian tennis player and content creator Ayan Broomfield has a knack for looking great off-court, often supporting boyfriend Frances Tiafoe from the stands. This year, she’ll be representing AO sponsor Piper-Heidsieck in the fashion stakes from her prime position. Her style tips are as follows:

• “Check the weather before finalising your outfit. I once wore a full leather outfit to a tennis match on a 35-degree day. It was the most uncomfortable two hours of my life.”
• “Comfort is key – and it can be cute. Tennis venues are large spaces, which means lots of walking. Want something dressier than sneakers on your feet? Consider wedges or kitten heels.”
• “Some of the best outfits I’ve seen at tennis tournaments have been actual tennis attire. You can’t ever go wrong with a simple tennis dress or skirt. Just personalise with accessories.”

A good serve

Gone are the days of hot-dogs and fries qualifying as good grub for hungry sports fans. This year, several culinary top seeds make their Australian Open debut, including Brigitte Hafner, who’ll be transplanting her two-hatted Tedesca Osteria from the Mornington Peninsula during finals week. Meanwhile, homesick Sydneysiders can feast on fare from Martin Benn and Vicki Wild, formerly of Sepia.

For more affordable eats, head to Garden Square, where Good Weekend’s own Julia Busuttil Nishimura will be dishing up one-hand-friendly recipes, including Maltese ricotta pastizzi, while a steak-filled baguette or burger from Gallic hotspot Entrecôte will keep fans fuelled for any late-night five-setters.

There’s something for party animals, too, the hottest ticket in town being a berth at Riverside Social, where LA-based Grandmaster Recorders (co-owned by Aussie expat hospitality guru Grant Smillie) will be in residence for cocktails and canapés with a California vibe.

Still hungry? For post-match celebrity-spotting – and Melbourne’s most-talked-about chocolate mousse – head to nearby Lucas Group newcomer Maison Bâtard’s Le Club, which will be open until 3am.

Premium tennis packages start at $469 per person. Maison Bâtard, 23 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Haute hydration

Sometimes, multiple brands combine to create a product that makes total sense, making you wonder what took them so long. This leather-bound drink bottle brings together two great Australian names: luxury leathergoods house Oroton and sustainable drinkware label Frank Green. The result – a range of drinking vessels and bottle carriers in tennis-friendly colourways, including bottle-green and white – will make you the most stylish water boy (or girl) around the courts. Oroton X Frank Green bottle, $119.

Hybrid hero

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about carrying a basket as a handbag, especially in the summertime. But it isn’t always the most practical choice (just ask Jane Birkin, whose namesake Hermès bag was reportedly conceived following an embarrassing basket spill across a plane aisle). This season, stylist Romy Frydman has teamed with Kinnon to design a range of bags that fuse the happy-go-lucky feel of a basket with the security of a bag. With tenniscore-vibing rattan inlays, they’re the perfect receptacle for courtside essentials. Crossbody bag, $295.

Game, set…and match

Tennis is known for its rivalries: Rafael Nadal v Roger Federer; Billie Jean King v Margaret Court; the Williams sisters. Less celebrated are the game’s partnerships, whether they be in the coaches’ boxes – watch out for Andy Murray on Team Djokovic this summer – or at a less official level. One blossoming mentorship is between retired Chinese player Li Na , who won the Australian Open in 2014, and her compatriot and tournament hot-ticket Qinwen Zheng, who won gold at the Paris Olympics. Both women are also ambassadors for luxury watch brand Rolex – as is Melbourne Park icon Rod Laver, who’ll be watching the action from a front-row seat at the centre court named in his honour.

Two in one

It’s a conundrum nearly as old as the game of tennis itself: take one’s racquet on holiday, or risk the hotel gear? Thankfully, Melbourne-based luggage brand July has answered the question with a capsule range of cases and bags with the tennis fan (and weekend warrior) in mind. The carry-on features a magnetic racquet holder that niftily clips to the front of the case and the colours suggest classic courtside cred: think a tough navy hard shell, soft brown handles, cream accents and a striped interior. For extra fun, there’s a range of stickers to decorate your pieces. Available at July stores, online or at the pop-up at the Open. Carry-on, $465; travel bag, $125; stickers, $35.