Swapping Selly Oak for the sun-soaked city of Melbourne, the three friends rented an apartment together for the duration of the tournament, fully immersing themselves in the excitement of one of tennis’ biggest stages.

Chloe took on a key role at the practice desk, liaising with players and coaches to organise and adjust their training schedules. Reflecting on the experience, she said:

“Working at the Australian Open was incredible—an extraordinary sporting event that I feel both grateful and privileged to have been a part of. I learned so much, and sharing the experience with friends from home made it even more special.”

Meanwhile, Ben and Dan worked in court servicing, ensuring the courts were in top condition for play. Their days started early, checking for any damage and preparing the surfaces before matches began. They were also the first point of contact for players during games, assisting with essential tasks such as restringing rackets and providing support wherever needed.

Having worked on tournaments at Edgbaston Priory, both were used to grass courts, but Melbourne’s hard courts presented a new set of challenges.

Dan summed up the experience, saying:

“This year, I managed to persuade Chloe and Ben to join me down under and enjoy the January sunshine. We were complete strangers when we first met at university, which makes it even more magical to see how our friendships have grown, taking us all the way to Australia! It’s surreal to think that in just a few years, we’ve gone from sitting in lecture halls at UoB to sitting courtside at one of the biggest sporting events in the world.”

Ben described the opportunity as “unforgettable,” adding:

“Working with two of my closest friends from Birmingham at such an iconic event was surreal. It made the experience even better.”