Magnificent Murray in Melbourne

A thrilling Australia Day weekend in Melbourne at the Australian Open tennis finals. We watched Andy Murray beat Federer in an epic semi-final. Then on Sunday we held our breath while he put up a magnificent battle against Djokovic in the final.

In terms of skill the two players were evenly matched and, since his success at the Olympics, Murray looks like he believes he can win every time he walks onto the court. But this time Djokovic, who’d had an extra day’s break since his semi, just had more energy in the fourth and final set.

I guess we’ll have to wait yet another year before a Brit wins the grand slam here – it’s only been 78 so far.

We found ourselves sitting immediately in front of Andre Agassi, and were privileged to have his expert commentary whispered in our ears throughout the match. At one point I inadvertently played a bit part in the proceedings when Murray’s serve bounced up into the stand and, without thinking, I caught it.

While I stared stupefied at the ball in my hand, I could hear Agassi urging me to throw it back to the ball boy. I did so, in my confusion only narrowly avoiding hitting the linesman.

Melbourne was looking great in the sunshine. The state government invests heavily in bringing prestige events like the Open here, because of the big impact they can have on the city’s global brand and economy.

I had dinner at the tennis with my friend Sir Rod Eddington, former CEO of British Airways, who now chairs the Victoria Major Events committee. I also chatted to tennis fan Kevin Spacey about his plans to celebrate his 10th year as Artistic Director of London’s Old Vic Theatre.

Whilst I was in Melbourne I visited Melbourne University, to call on the Vice Chancellor and visit the Neuroscience Institute, which has a number of links with British research institutions.

I met up with Member of Parliament Josh Frydenberg, one of the Liberal Party’s leading foreign affairs experts. And I joined some journalists from the Melbourne Age, one of whom, Peter Ker, has just won a scholarship we organise with British Airways, to undertake a secondment to the Financial Times in London.