Vote of thanks

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was delighted to receive a letter from a ball girl he helped from the court at last year's Australian Open, after she had been dazed by being struck in the face with a ball.

"Dear Mr. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga," the letter read. "I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for helping me out on court during your round 2 match. I'm not sure if you remember me but I was the ball girl you escorted off court."

Tsonga commented: "It was nice to have this letter. I didn't do something really special, to be honest. I just saw her last year. She was struggling. I saw that she needs some help.

The only thing I did is I took her and I bring her to outside of the court, and that's it. I didn't save the world at all. But it was really kind to receive something after that."

Standards on the slide

The Age newspaper reported some unusual goings-on regarding media at the Australian Open.

One European journalist was found sleeping rough under a bridge and moved on by security, the paper said.

It added that a Chinese journalist brought his five-year-old along, and left the child unattended at the tournament's play area while he carried on with his work.

"When he returned at 7:00pm -- 10 hours later -- to pick up the child, he was greeted by police who sternly reminded the gentleman that the playground was not a day-care centre," the report said.

A wildcard - for my girlfriend

Rafael Nadal looked distinctly flustered when he was pulled up for describing his girlfriend as a "wildcard" entry for the tournament.

Nadal's long-term girlfriend Xisca Perello is rarely seen courtside, but she has finally made an appearance in Melbourne, where Nadal has competed 11 times, reaching three finals and lifting the trophy in 2009.

"After 10 years, finally my girlfriend gets a wildcard to come here," Nadal told on-court interviewer Jim Courier, as Perello looked on.

"A wildcard? I'm speechless. That's a wildcard? She's not a main draw player? She needs a special entry?" Courier said.

An embarrassed Nadal replied awkwardly: "Better we stop here."