Tennis legends cut Australian Open tension with sledge hammer

Amid the stressful battles for an Australian Open title or pivotal world ranking points, four old guys instead cut the tension and played a game that tennis crowds will remember.

Taking the court on Hisense Arena on Saturday afternoon, tennis legends Wayne Ferreira - former Australian Open semifinalist - and Henri Leconte - former French Open finalist and Davis Cup champion - took on former world No. 4 Jonas Bjorkman and former world No. 7 Thomas Johansson as part of the Legends doubles event.

The scoreline doesn't matter, just antics of comedian Leconte, razzing up the local crowd between points with what could only be described as an interpretive dance while his opposition was taunting and sledging.

"This was my first live tennis match and I loved it!" American expat Sarah Williams, who travelled from Sydney with a group of friends to experience the Australian Open told Xinhua.

"It was very entertaining, it was like the Harlem Globetrotters of tennis."

For the record, Leconte and Ferreira won the shortened match in straight sets 4-3 (3), 4-2, but not before the antics concluded.

In second last game of the match, the two of the legends stepped aside and let the young ball-boys take their place for two points. In the final game, Ferreira joined Bjorkman and Johansson for a point, making an effective brick wall against the former world No.5. So, in classic cheeky style, Leconte got all the ball kids on his side to even the scoreline.

"If they (tennis matches) were all like this, I would watch more tennis," Williams said.

The joy and laughter was all going on while Serena Williams continued her Australian Open campaign, downing compatriot Nicole Gibbs 6-1, 6-3 and Rafael Nadal was fighting an intense match against Germany's Alexander Zverev, where scores are at 1803 local time (AEDT) are one set each.

Following the legends battle, the Australian Open main draw continued. Australian pairing Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua were in a tense battle with Martina Hingis and Coco Vandeweghe. The Aussies were leading 6-2, 5-5 at 1803 local time. Endit