Sydney’s first blast of summer tennis energy hit Moore Park last night as Waterdrop officially celebrated its new multi-year partnership with the Australian Open, taking over Sydney Racquet Club for a launch that blended sport, sustainability, cocktails and questionable athletic talent.
If the dress code was activewear, the behaviour suggested anything but athletic discipline. Between points, the pickleball courts became a DJ-fuelled dancefloor, and Aperol Spritzes, Altos margaritas and Piper-Heidsieck champagne flowed freely.
Meanwhile, the padel courts hosted the evening’s main spectacle: a one-shot, winner-takes-all $2,000 Golden Point Slam tournament. Event host Darren McMullen confirmed it was “the biggest prize that a winner has ever got in padel history in Australia.”
To the shock of absolutely everyone, including themselves, two B&T staffers entered the competition without having previously set foot on a padel court. After a shaky introduction to what can only be described as tennis with walls, they somehow pulled off two consecutive victories fuelled entirely by adrenaline, dumb luck, mild peer pressure and a few too many Aperol Spritzes.
Ultimately, and very ironically for journalists, it wasn’t skill, stamina or strategy that derailed the run, but communication. A match-point ball sailed straight between the pair as both assumed the other was getting it – a tragic, comedic, emphatically avoidable moment.
But for the record: one B&T journo never wanted to compete in the first place.
A Party With Purpose
Beyond the cocktails and chaos, the night marked a meaningful continuation of Waterdrop’s role in shaping a more sustainable era for the Australian Open.
Waterdrop first joined the tournament ecosystem in 2024, when reusable player bottles and on-court refill stations were introduced as part of a new commitment to reduce waste across the precinct.
The impact was significant. The tournament achieved a 99 per cent reduction in single-use plastic in player areas, with around 800 players refilling more than 5,600 litres of water sustainably.
The continued partnership strengthens that foundation, with Waterdrop serving as the tournament’s Official Bottle Partner heading into 2026 with its presence felt across players, support teams, staff and fans, and delivering personalised bottles, ambassador meet-and-greets and Microdrink sampling across the AO precinct.
Opening the evening, Waterdrop Australia’s Catherine Dix said: “To be an official partner with the Australian Open and to be celebrating sustainable hydration is definitely an exciting moment for us”.
“Partnerships are everything,” she said. “They are what’s made us successful.”
The exclusive AO player bottle, the same premium model used courtside, will be available for purchase in just over a week.
Waterdrop activations will expand across the broader Summer of Tennis, including the United Cup, Brisbane International, Canberra International, Adelaide International and Hobart International.
