It’s rare that you hear a player talk about their love of the extreme heat that sometimes accompanies the Australian Open, but that is the case for Italian Sara Errani.
This is the sixth time the world no. 48 has played in the Australian Open women's singles and she feels the conditions suit her better here then anywhere else in the world.
“I very much like the heat, I’ve always preferred when it is very hot than when it’s a bit cold. I like to feel the heat on my body. I think I can adapt better then who I am playing,” Errani said.
“Here in Melbourne, the first two days [of the Australian Open] it was very, very hot. I prefer it to be even hotter.”
The Australian Open has been a happy hunting ground for Errani since she debuted here as a 19-year-old qualifier and took Lindsay Davenport to a tight three setter.
She has since made it to the third round of the tournament twice and has played other tough matches against some of the best players in the world.
This year marks the furthest the Italian has ever progressed in any Grand Slam event. She plays Jie Zheng in the fourth round of the tournament that she claims is her favourite.
When asked which event she would most like to win on the tour she was adamant in her response.
“Australian Open… This year” she said laughing as she slammed the desk with her hand.
“I like very much Australia, all the years I was coming, all the years I’ve been coming I feel comfortable… also the people are very friendly so I like very much.”
Her love affair with Australia does not stop at the weather and the event itself. Errani grew up admiring former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt.
“When I was young I like very much Hewitt. I was watching at him on the TV and I thought he is very solid on the baseline and I like that kind of play.”
But don’t expect Errani to be moving to Australia anytime soon. If her press conference is anything to go by, the Italian media just can’t get enough of the 24- year-old.
Popular is probably an understatement - even after the interviewing had been called to an end at a recent press conference the questions were still being fired at the Italian.
And her affection for Australia may be strong, but it's not that strong. She says she has no intentions of trying Vegemite and does not particularly fancy the idea of cuddling a koala.
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