By Arabella Peterson EntertainmentHosting 21.01.2020

How to Ace Hosting an Australian Open Watch Party

Serve up style and fun with these winning tips.

I’ll admit, until a week ago, my knowledge of tennis began and ended at knowing the names of the Williams sisters. If you’d asked me who Alex de Minaur was, I would have guessed a designer handbag brand, or perhaps a French actor. But like millions of others around the world, I’ve been swept up in the excitement of the Australian Open.

Tennis has always been a particularly fashionable sport, but thanks to the 2024 film Challengers, it’s having a lasting moment in the pop culture zeitgeist. So if you’ve always wanted to bring your sporty and sartorially-inclined friends together for a viewing party that everyone will love, now is the time.

Elevate your snack game

Committing to hosting the watch party means you’re in it for the long haul. You’re looking at quite a few hours from the time your guests show up to when they leave, so it’s best to have snacks on offer that are fine to sit out for a while. Also, the last thing you want is to miss out on the match while you prepare food in the kitchen, so keep it simple. Some tasty crowd-pleasers to whip up before guests arrive and pull out during the day include Pavlova, vegetarian spring rolls, focaccia, vegetable dumplings, summer galette and tahini brownies.

Homemade lemonade always goes down a treat courtside, so why not serve it up to your guests at home? Here’s a simple recipe: combine one cup of water and one cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves into a syrup and let it cool. In a large pitcher, mix the juice of 6 lemons, syrup, and four cups of sparkling water. Add ice, lemon slices, strawberries and mint leaves to garnish.

Buy a bottle of Cuvée Brut (or prosecco, depending on budget) to pop open if your favourite player wins!

Game. Set. Matching décor.

If you’re deciding which linenware to get out for the occasion, a chic on-theme setup never goes astray. A crisp white tablecloth, napkins or placemats will mirror classic tennis whites, and the elegance of the sport itself. Like the iconic hardcourt surfaces of Melbourne Park, adding pops of blue will pay homage to the setting of the Australian Open while also evoking a quintessential Australian coastal vibe. Or, show your allegiance to our homegrown talent with green and gold tableware. Top it off with some Australian native floral arrangements – think eucalyptus leaves, waratahs, banksias and wattles (these bright yellow flowers also mimic the iconic hue of tennis balls, tying in nicely to the theme).

Tennis-inspired attire

This is the perfect excuse to look preppy, chic and sporty; we’re talking pleated skirts, collared shirts and sweater vests. Tenniscore has taken off beyond the court, with runways, red carpets and street style embracing the trend. Who could forget Zendaya’s Loewe ensemble, complete with bedazzled mini dress and matching tennis-ball heeled shoes? Personally, my outfit might be less Loewe and more Lowes, but if method dressing is good enough for A-listers, it’s good enough for me. For a versatile, comfortable look that fits the brief but can be worn year-round, our Short Lounge Set in White made from light, breathable linen will keep your style game on point.

Integrate some activities

There are two types of people in this world: those who love organised fun and those who don’t. If you lean toward the latter, canapés, drinks and a comfortable couch should be all you need to nail your event. If you’re in the former category (board game and pub quiz fans, I’m looking at you), some on-theme activities will get your guests in the spirit. A quick trivia round with event-aligned prizes is an easy way to amp up the energy. If you’ve got a backyard, investing in a badminton set and playing a few rounds might spark everyone’s competitive nature and unleash their inner champions pre or post viewing of the big game.

Bring the comfort

Fun fact: the longest Australian Open match was 5 hours and 53 minutes when Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal at the Men’s Singles Final in 2012. Don’t worry, most matches only go for about 90 minutes, but even that’s a long time to be perched uncomfortably at the back of the room. Now’s the time to pull out every chair, cushion, futon, mattress, and bean bag you own to make sure the living room is set up for maximum comfort. But if you’re limited in the furnishings department, there’s no shame in enforcing a BYO cushion rule. If you don’t have air conditioning, it might be worth forking out for a couple of standing fans so your guests aren’t sweltering in the heat. As long as everyone is cool, well-fed, hydrated and relaxed, it’ll be an Australian Open to remember.