By Deanne Jeffers
TENNIS Hot Shots player Layla Hawks from Nathalia was selected as an ANZ Coin Crew member for the pre-match coin toss during the 2022 Australian Open.
Layla, aged five, was selected to flip the ANZ Commemorative Coin to start the Round 2 match between Rafael Nadal and Yannick Hanfmann. She said she was so excited and that she had been practicing her coin toss before coming on court at Rod Laver Arena.
Layla’s two older siblings also tossed the coin for Ash Barty and Paula Badosa’s day three matches. They are among 150 lucky ANZ Hot Shot players who were given the opportunity to flip the coin at the grand slam.
According to her mum, Gemma, Layla stayed up as late as she could to watch Nadal win the men’s singles tournament against Daniil Medvedev, claiming his 21st Grand Slam title.
Commenting on the initiative, ANZ managing director retail banking Katherine Bray said, “We are so proud to support the dreams of young tennis players and provide them with a once in a lifetime opportunity to flip the ANZ Commemorative Coin on the iconic Australian Open courts. Meeting some of the best tennis players in the world is such a memorable experience for the children and ANZ is honoured to play a part in making it happen for them.”
The 2022 Commemorative Coin features tennis legend Margaret Molesworth (1894-1985), who won the inaugural women’s singles title at the Australasian Championships 100 years ago. She is recognised as one of the top ten players in the world at that time.
