Art Series Hotels has served up a special treat for its corporate partners with an exclusive private party at The Blackman attended by four international tennis stars in town for the 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 took part in an entertaining Q&A at the St Kilda Rd hotel in front of VIP guests.
The tennis stars had earlier swapped the racquet for a paintbrush, led in a painting masterclass by Art Series namesake artist Zhong Chen.
Winning back-to-back Australian titles in 2012 and 2013, Azarenka is currently ranked #51, having climbed 158 places in the past 12 months. 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.
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