They came up with plans to prevent suicide and tackle climate change. Then on Day 4 of the reality TV challenge came a final twist. They were joined by Australia’s first Muslim Member of Parliament, Omar Al-Rawi, who gave his first speech to the public as a public figure.
Serena Williams had won the French Open on Thursday but she had to wait until Friday to reveal the news.
In her post-match press conference, she had made no reference to the stunning victory, nor did she tell anyone else about it.
It is the second time in a week that Williams has held back the real news to share it with her millions of fans.
Williams’s victory over Frenchwoman, Angelique Kerber, on Thursday brought the fourth Major title she has won, following her two Australian Opens last year. It also meant that she had beaten the reigning tennis women’s champion, Simona Halep, in her first slam final.
Williams, who won 20 Grand Slam titles in her career, had already confirmed that she would be seeking a fifth in Melbourne.
“I have so many things that I want to accomplish in this life,” she said.
Just over a month earlier, Williams had been preparing for the French Open final against Kerber, but she had yet to name the victor.
When Serena had reached the final, she didn’t say anything to the press, despite the thousands of people who had gathered outside the court to watch the live broadcast.
The 28-year-old tennis star’s determination and quiet power to deflect any criticism of her game had already made her the number one sportsperson in the world.
But she was still waiting for the day when the attention would be on her.
There were no further threats of retirement when Serena was speaking on Friday.
This is her fifth final in a row and the first Grand Slam for which she has not lost a set.
The day before, she explained the reason for her silence.
“The truth is, being the champion, you want to show in a public forum that you are the best,” she said.
It is a statement she has made many times before. When she won her first Grand Slam title at the 2010 U.S. Open, she did not discuss the final result.