The suburban pizza shop attracting the Australian Open’s heavy hitters

The highest praise any owner of a pizza restaurant in Australia could be paid invariably involves the approval of a travelling Italian. But surely there are extra points to be won when the Italian customer in question is world Tennis No.2 Jannik Sinner?

Well, such is the case for Julia Perri, whose La Pizzeria Italiana in Beaumaris, has become a hotspot for several of the game’s greats. Along with Sinner, the clientele has come to include a rotating cast of the Australian Open’s heavy hitters: Lorenzo Musetti, Laura Siegemund and Novak Djokovic – just to name a few.

“We used to have a place in South Yarra, and then we moved to another part of Melbourne called Beaumaris, and they followed us,” Perri told Open Season when reached by phone on Thursday.

We hear it’s become routine for the place to be swarmed by players and their teams this time of year, with Sinner among the players who are back each year. We’re told the last time he was in, he ordered a margherita with prosciutto, for those considering a visit.

“But they call us in advance and let us know what they feel like having, and then they leave it up to my husband Antonio, who is the chef, to cook up a storm,” Perri said.

Perri said the restaurant’s popularity can all be traced back to Djokovic’s former Italian manager, who would appear to be Edoardo Artaldi. As she tells it, Artaldi stumbled across the restaurant as he was out hunting down good coffee and food. Not long after, he brought the team in, and it’s continued on from there.

After splitting with Djokovic and linking up with Musetti, it’s no surprise the young Italian star has adopted the same eating habits.

Spotted: Laver, Rosewall and Sedgman hobnobbing at the O

We were thrilled to see this photo come across our desks, picturing Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Frank Sedgman standing shoulder to shoulder, enjoying themselves at Melbourne Park.

The three giants of Australian tennis were among the guests who dropped by the O rooftop venue at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. We count ourselves lucky to see Laver, 87, upbeat and walking the halls of his namesake arena, flanked by Rosewall, 91, and Sedgman, 98, no less.

Between them, the trio has 24 grand slams, among a hatful of other major trophies, and made up a key part of a golden generation unlikely to be seen again. Of course, we hear they were having a grand old time.