Each year on the first Friday of Wimbledon, an increasingly large crowd gathers at a house near the All England Club for the 'Aussie Barbecue', hosted by Tennis Australia. The event brings together current players, former stars, coaches, administrators and journalists, serving as a celebration of tennis and a vital link between generations of Australian players.
Australia boasts a rich tennis heritage, with men winning 53 of 80 majors in the 1950s and 1960s, and women led by Margaret Court claiming 18 of 40 in the 1960s. However, it has been 50 years since Mark Edmondson was the last home men's champion at the Australian Open, and 24 years since Lleyton Hewitt won Wimbledon, the most recent Australian men's major winner. Despite this, the tradition of mentorship endures.
Tony Roche, a former champion who coached Hewitt and Pat Rafter, emphasised the importance of passing down knowledge. 'That was a very strong tradition in Australia,' he said, recalling how young players like Hewitt were brought into Davis Cup squads as 'orange boys' to learn from the greats. Roche noted that the tradition, which began with Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor, was revived by John Newcombe and himself.
Todd Woodbridge, winner of 16 grand slam doubles titles, highlighted the privilege of being compared to past greats and his desire to mentor younger players. 'I think that we've still got that in Australian tennis, and that's really, really important to me,' he said. Allan Stone, the 1977 Australian Open doubles champion, recalled being a ballboy at a Davis Cup tie when Wimbledon champion Ashley Cooper hit with him for 10 minutes—a gesture he never forgot.
Roche expressed confidence that the tradition will continue through Hewitt, now Australia's Davis Cup captain, who mentors current No. 1 Alex de Minaur. 'With Lleyton, it's in very good hands,' Roche said. 'You couldn't get a more passionate leader.'
