Well here we are – it’s Melbourne 2008, The Australian Open, the draw has been made – and it’s all good, mate!

The locals are a pretty friendly lot, some smile and some just hang about.


But that’s enough of that – grab your Spanish caps and flags – we’re off to Melbourne Park. It’s the first Grand Slam tournament of the year - it’s a scorcher today and Rafa is Down Under, shirt off and raring to go.



An imaginary scenario unfolds:-
The phone rings – "G’day, Rusty here mate! Where you been?"
"Lleyton? Hi, I just arrived from Chennai."
"Good stuff hey! Fancy a go on centre court and that? Try out the True Blue."
"You are going to centre court now, play the new surfrace?"
"Yeah, bloody oath, practice mate, I’ve teed it up. In half an hour - will you be in it?"
"OK, I call a car, no?"
"No mate, I’ll pick you up, she’ll be sweet."
"Huh ..."
"Ten minutes mate!"



We take the Champions walk, a time line of Australian tennis greats, rows of sculptured busts that lead to the main Arena named after our most famous player and perhaps the greatest of all time, Rod Laver. As we walk there is a murmur in the trees - a willy-willy twirls its way through, rustling the leaves and stirring up past memories of great matches played.



It’s 2004, the young teenager, who sat, no, wriggled incessantly just a few seats away from me under the hot Australian sun and cheered for his compatriot Moya, is now playing Lleyton Hewitt, a R3 match in the evening session. His youth, ability, determination and sheer exuberance is breathtaking and even the crowd, fully prepared to be totally parochial for the Australian champ, warm to Rafa in this great contest.

He goes down fighting for the last point, it’s 6-7(2), 6-7(5), 2-6 and the fans stand as one to applaud – they appreciate his effort to ‘give it a burl’ and at 17, Rafa certainly did. ‘Bewdy mate’ and ‘Good onya’ they yell as Rafa waves and leaves the court. The Aussie commentator says “It’s like the first time you saw John McEnroe, Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi; - unmistakable Star quality.”



We walk a little further, cheers and shouts of ‘Vamos Rafa’ linger still; it’s 2007 a R4 match against Andy Murray, a five setter that ends just shy of 2 am. We are all exhausted! We have cheered, cried, rallied again; the cheering thread on VamosBrigade.com reaches 1004 posts!



The imaginary scenario continues...
"So what’s on this arvo?"
"Wot?"
"Sorry mate, what are you going to do this afternoon?"
"Swim, stretch, cool a little bit down."
"Hey I’ve got me cozzie, let’s do that later on but. C’mon I want you to have a squiz at something. Down these stairs. See that way goes to the press centre and interview room."
"Yes, I know it."
"This way right down to the end. Hear the music. They’ve already started. Let’s take a stickybeak in here. Now I have to let you in on a secret."
"A secret, now I am nervious."
"She’ll be right cobber. OK, you know the TV program, Dancing with the Stars? Well, they’re doing a show for the Player’s Party on Thursday night, and we’ve been roped in."
"You and me for dance? Oh no, the pression! It’s unbelievable but I gonna try, no?"
"Now listen mate, there’s the Waltz and the Tango and I thought after La Bamba, if you help me with the Tango, I’ll drum you in on the Waltz. Fair dinkum mate, you look like a stunned mullet."
"Ha ha, it’s OK, sure, no. I am with calm."



We reach the doors to Rod Laver Arena – it’s Monday night, nearly 7:30pm and there’s a ladies' match first up then the Vamossing begins in earnest all over the world!

So, are we prepared? You betcha, there’s no mucking around from here on in! Rafa’s as fit as a Mallee bull. It’s hard yakka but he certainly packs a wallop - the bloke’s a ridgie didge legend and while the VBers are gathering, the board is primed and ready to soar. And you can be sure we’ve got an ear to the ground to find out what really happens at the players Party. Vamos Rafa - all the way.

For decoding (and we know you'll need it) try an Aussie slang site ;-)