It doesn’t take much for my eyes to well up during the early stages of a slam—especially when the year-opener in Melbourne is concerned. Yes—I’m holding the Australian Open accountable as the tear-jerking slam. It’s in January; a month that foists panoramic self-improvement upon us like a swarm of optimized bees. Players have mental distance from the bygone year, and arrive at Melbourne Park with dreams buoyant and hope newly hatched. Will this be their proverbial year?
Here are five moments that earned my tears so far in week one, in ascending order, from pale dribble through to burst water pipe.
5. ESPN charging $30 for full AO access, without warning