For those readers obsessed with the meaning behind the Serena Williams-Dustin Martin catch-up in the Maldives late last year, the main interview room at Melbourne Park was the place to be on Monday.
Williams was famously tight-lipped in the countdown to the Open, but explained just how she came to be shared cocktails by the pool with the Richmond superstar.
“It was just by chance. We met in Maldives. He just happened to be there. We just hung out. We had a blast,” said the 23-time major winner.
However, Williams has already decided a fresh meeting in public with the top Tiger in Melbourne is probably off the cards.
“We decided he couldn’t come to the Australian Open because he would be mobbed way too much. So it was, like, If we could hang out, it would be cool. But definitely not in Melbourne Park or here. It would be way too crazy for him,” she said.
No audience with Serena for Dusty in Melbourne Park.Credit:Getty Images