For most players the toss of the coin at the start of a match is a brief second, a quick way to determine whether they will serve or receive. But for many of the people lucky enough to get to toss the coin at a Grand Slam® match it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Until this week, nine-year-old Jemma Gossow of Tennis Palmerston had never set foot in Rod Laver Arena, let alone Melbourne Park. Something tells me she won’t soon forget her first experience of visiting Rod Laver Arena.
Rather than watching from the stands, the first time Gossow entered Rod Laver Arena was to toss the coin for the third round match between Men’s third seed David Ferrer (ESP) and 29th seed Jeremy Chardy (FRA) on Friday 17 January 2014.
Gossow who was the highest individual point’s earner during the AO Blitz competition collected an impressive 1,291,005 points in a variety of challenges, some 49,000 points ahead of second place. She also managed to raise an incredible $6,290 in fundraising for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Foundation Australia.
“It was scary but so cool” Gossow said about the experience, which included walking past Women’s world number one Serena Williams on her way onto court. “Rod Laver Arena is so big…”
Gossow will also be attending the Australian Open Men’s and Women’s finals this weekend; be sure to keep an eye out for her.
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