HATS OFF TO YOU, SERENA
It's not rare that players of Serena Williams' calibre will be handed items to sign by fans after grand slam victories.
So, as you can imagine, the world No.2 was a little confused when an Australian lady who passed Williams a red cowboy hat – after Williams' straight sets quarter-final win over Johanna Konta – told her to keep it.
Little did she know, that woman was none other than world-renowned horse trainer Gai Waterhouse.
"Well, she's a really famous horse trainer, obviously. She's known for her hats. I started to sign it, but I stopped just in time. I have a nice, beautiful hat today," Williams smiled.
Asked if Williams knew that it was Waterhouse giving her the hat, she responded:
"Not at the time. But afterwards, I actually knew about her. It was random, because I have a friend that is Australian that was telling me about it maybe eight months ago. It was kind of cool to see that."
A beautiful touch from Melbourne Cup winning trainer @GaiWaterhouse1 as she gives her hat to @serenawilliams https://t.co/mJsB6QF2Mj
— Channel 7 (@Channel7) January 25, 2017
LUCKY CHARM
With the Australian Open now deep in its second week, Melburnians would be well accustomed to seeing the Kia courtesy cars driving players and officials around the city.
Well, Hot Shots has learnt that being a driver of one of these cars comes with its perks.
Particularly when the entourage of a highly-seeded Spanish player takes a liking to one driver in particular, and invites her to sit behind the player's box in an important match on Rod Laver Arena.
Needless to say, he won.
Not sure how well it went down with the Aussie bloke she had to postpone a date with, though.
FINDING MORE SPACE FOR FED
Federer-mania has well and truly engulfed the Melbourne Park precinct this year, with the romanticism around his run well publicised.
But it officially went to a new level on Wednesday when tournament officials decided to move his practice venue.
The Swiss champ usually warms up on court 17 or 18, but his fan base has become so large that it was moved to court 16, the only court with a grandstand.
If it keeps growing exponentially ahead of a potential dream final, he might have to warm up on centre court!
Roger Federer has too many fans to practice on a court without a grandstand. Photo: Getty Images
HOLIDAY AT THE HEATH
Having watched nearly two full weeks of constant tennis, you can understand that some of the Australian Open commentators need a mental break.
Hot Shots hears Channel Seven's Jim Courier will be swapping a Wilson for a Titleist when he tees off at one of Melbourne's most salubrious golf courses, Kingston Heath, early on Thursday morning.
Beware the glassy greens, Jim. They're awfully quick.
JUNIORS FALL IN THE CHASE OF GLORY
We know it hasn't been a great tournament for Australians at this year's tournament.
Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios both went out unexpectedly early, while Sam Stosur's Melbourne Park hoodoo continued with another first round exit.
Unfortunately, that trend continued in the juniors with Chase Ferguson, the last local hope in the draw, losing in the third round.
The green and gold is usually well represented in the juniors, with previous winners including Tomic, Brydan Klein and last year's winner (we'd better not mention him).
Tournament over: Chase Ferguson. Photo: Getty Images
COME ON, MATE ...
As journalists, we are reticent to call out other journalists for mistakes.
But this one was a little hard to ignore.
With the Williams sisters on opposite sides of the draw and potentially destined for an amazing ninth Serena v Venus grand slam final; one particular reporter asked this after her quarter-final win:
"So, Serena, you play a woman named Venus Williams in the next round, how do you see that match going?"
Williams: (pause) "Um, I play Mirjana Lucic in the next round …"
Awkward.
Who, me? Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. Photo: Getty Images