Don’t expect to see Richmond superstar Dustin Martin sitting in Serena Williams’ players box at the Australian Open.
Not because the 23-time major winner doesn’t want him there; more that she realises the hype would get out of control.
Williams mightn’t know all that much about the AFL.
But she knows more than enough to appreciate just how big a deal the Brownlow medallist and two-time premiership star is in footy-mad Melbourne.
Williams and Martin struck up an unlikely friendship after meeting by chance while holidaying in the Maldives last year shortly after the Tigers won the 2019 flag.
“He just happened to be there,” said Williams after her 6-0 6-3 demolition job on Czech teenager Anastasia Potapova on Monday.
“We just hung out and had a blast.
“But we decided he couldn’t come to the Australian Open because he would be mobbed way too much.
“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.”