Game. Set. Art.
Art Series serves a special treat for tennis stars ahead of Australian Open.
Former World No.1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, world #6 men’s player Kevin Anderson, Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco and legendary Frenchman Henri Leconte swapped their tennis racquet for a paintbrush with Art Series Hotels.
One of our namesake artists’s Zhong Chen guided the three players and commentator in an art class at The Blackman penthouse before a private event, where the trio were grilled about their preparations for the 2019 Australian Open.
Winning back-to-back Australian titles in 2012 and 2013, Azarenka is currently ranked #51, having climbed 158 places in the past 12 months. Her return to Rod Laver Arena will be her first after the birth of her first child in 2016 and late withdrawal from last year’s tournament.
Anderson prevailed in a battle of the giants on the weekend to win The Maharashtra Open in India and claim his sixth singles career title. Known for his big serve, Anderson is a two-time Grand Slam finalist and one of the tallest players on the circuit at 6’8”.
Currently ranked #28 and a quarterfinalist at both the US Open (2009 and 2010) and Wimbeldon (2013), Verdasco’s five set loss to countrymen, and eventual Australian Open champion, Rafael Nadal in 2009 is still considered one of the greatest Grand Slam semi-finals of all time.
Leconte retired in 1996 following a successful career which saw him win the French Open men's doubles title and help his home-country claim victory in the Davis Cup in 1991. A regular in the commentary box at Rod Laver over the past few years, his hilarious antics has won him a new generation of fans.
A number of international players traditionally stay with Art Series while competing at the Australian Open with this year no different.
