An interview with our AO20 winners
An interview with the lucky winners of our Australian Open 2020 giveaway package
We are very pleased to announce the winners of our amazing Australian Open package giveaway: Claire Hanafee-Kostic and Mark Kostic from Atherton, California! The lucky couple will be jetting off to Melbourne this month courtesy of Grand Slam Tennis Tours and contest partners Tennis Australia, Midwest Sports, and Visit Victoria.
Here’s a brief rundown of what they won:
A six-night travel package to the Australian Open 2020
Airfare to Melbourne courtesy of Visit Victoria
Six sessions of tennis tickets, including Super Row seats
Exclusive Rod Laver Arena Walk-On Experience courtesy of Tennis Australia
Dining experience at 56 by Glasshouse at the AO
Tennis playing opportunity on the grass at the Kooyong Club
A $1,000 shopping spree at Midwest Sports to gear up for their trip
Mark and Claire are incredibly excited to be taking off for this Australian Open experience of a lifetime. In anticipation of the big day, we caught up with the lucky winner to ask her a few questions about their wishes, hopes, and what they are most excited about!
Claire, first off: congratulations! What are your initial thoughts, and how excited are you to win the trip?
I couldn’t believe that I won this trip! This has been on our bucket list for years and we were actually talking about going to the Australian Open in 2020. This is a dream come true! We are so happy and I have never won anything like this before – it’s like winning the lottery!
We are so happy you feel that way! I understand that you’ve never been to Melbourne or the Australian Open before; what are you most looking forward to about your trip down there? Any favorite players to see, or particular aspects of the tournament you can’t wait to check out?
My husband and I have never even been to Australia! We are avid tennis followers. We are so excited to see our favorite players; Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Monfils, Serena, Sloane Stephens, Osaka, and the newer up-and-coming players as well. We just can’t wait to see Melbourne, the stadium, and be there in the summer (which is our winter). We are also looking forward to playing on real grass courts at the famous Kooyong Club.
That’s a lot to look forward to Claire! Who did you choose as your lucky travel companion? Do you play tennis together? Have you traveled to other tennis events?
My lucky travel companion is my husband, Mark! We met playing tennis and have attended the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA for the past 20 years. This year we went to the French Open. We play doubles together and the new “pop” tennis.
And finally, now that you’re checking the Australian Open off your bucket list, what’s the next tennis event you’d like to visit?
Hopefully we’ll get to host you in London at our famous The House by Grand Slam Tennis Tours in the near future!
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We can’t wait to meet you at the Langham when you land! Your first drink is on us.
For those of you dreaming about an Australian Open vacation like this one in 2021, we will have packages available very soon that would make for an unforgettable gift for you and someone you love! Visit our Australian Open packages page or call into our office at 888-910-2894 and talk to Jane, James, or Mike to secure your seat on Rod Laver Arena!
