Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs “It just became something that we did and something we based trips around,” he said. “For our honeymoon we went to Paris for the French Open.”Each grand slam offers a different experience, according to Zakhary.“In Australia the tennis is so great and people are so nice, they call it the happy slam and it really fits,” he said.“For the French Open you are in the middle of Paris enjoying the whole Parisian life. Wimbledon is so formal, we dress up – I wear a suit, my wife wears a nice dress. The US Open is completely different from all the others tennis slams, under lights in New York is so unique and it is big and blockbuster and loud.”Zakhary’s favourite of the grand slams was always the French Open as that is where Nadal triumphed, but now he says it is tough to say.“Each has their own character.”The Zakharys loved watching Rafael Nadal play at the French Open. Credit: Getty ImagesThe cost of attending all the grand slams does not come cheap. Zakhary paid $17,000 for two front-row tickets for the Australian Open this year which includes accommodation at Crown.However, that is a relative bargain compared to the French Open and Wimbledon, where similar tickets without a hotel cost $US28,000 ($44,000), and the US Open which cost $US50,000 ($79,000).“What’s my favourite grand slam? It is hard to say. My least favourite is the US Open,” Zakhary said.He said most US Open tickets are sold to scalpers who then inflate the price to sell them on to fans.“The price is outrageous and there is such a black market, the other tournaments do a good job of controlling the price,” he said.Zakhary also books top restaurants when he attends the tournaments.“Whenever we go on a trip like this we book restaurants. In Melbourne we go to Vue de Monde every year and we will go to Chin Chin,” he said.In Paris, the Zakharys stay at the Ritz and eat at Michelin-starred restaurants and in London they eat at Mayfair hotspot Gymkahna.“These tournaments are an investment; once you take in travel and hotel you are spending considerably, but it is what we like to do,” he said. “When I was young I would be sitting at the top of the stadium, as I have got older I have been able to sit closer and closer.”Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
