WHEN it comes to high profile supporters, they don’t come much bigger than world number 1 tennis player Simona Halep.
The Romanian, currently in Melbourne for the Australian Open, was quizzed during a press conference after her three-set, round 1 win over Estonian Kaia Kanepi about relationship with Port Adelaide Football Club board member Darren Cahill and her love for the club.
Halep and Cahill parted ways in November to allow Cahill to spend more time in Australia with his family.
Cahill became Halep’s coach in 2015, guiding her to the top of the WTA rankings and her maiden major title at the 2018 French Open.
The pair spent clearly enough time together for Cahill’s love of Port Adelaide to rub off on Halep.
“I don’t understand anything (about AFL) but I was watching it, we were watching in the lobby with Darren and the team and supporting the guys,” Halep said during her post-match press conference on Tuesday.
“I’ve been to Adelaide, I’ve been to the club and met the team.
“The club was really nice and good facilities for them, very professional.
“I really was enjoying the time there and I’m supporting them with all my heart.”
Halep said it was “weird and tough” being in Australia without Cahill by her side, but said the pair had maintained their relationship.
“He’s around and he gave me some advice,” she said.
“He came on court for some practices and I really thank him for being so close and we are very good friends.
“So even if we are not coach/player, we are friends.”
Australian Alex Bolt is also flying the flag for Port Adelaide supporters at the Australian Open.
After fellow Power fan Thanasi Kokkinakis was forced to retire hurt from his first-round match, Bolt beat the more fancied American Jack Sock.
Ranked 155 in the world Bolt beat Sock, who is ranked 50 spots higher than him, in four sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2).
He takes on French 29th seed Gilles Simon on Thursday afternoon.
