THE IMG Oz Open players party at Crown casino at Breezes was again a major hit among all the top players and, as usual, a fantastic way to start the 2005 party season.

IMG big names Maria Sharapova, Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Daniela Huntuchova all turned up on Sunday night.

Sharapova, last year's Wimbledon winner, was dressed in a short denim mini-skirt.

It seems she has quite a few fans among Melbourne's AFL ranks.

Several of the IMG-managed footy players who wandered into Breezes wanted to meet the superstar from Russia.

But she wasn't that keen.

Asked to pose for a photo with AFL players Justin Koschitzke, Adam McPhee, James Kelly, Joel Corey and Blake Caracella, Sharapova hardly gave them a glance.

Very, very different from Anna Kournikova, who'd pose for everyone and everything.

With Sharapova it's all about the tennis, and nothing will distract her from trying to win at Melbourne Park over the next fortnight.

The Williams girls caused a commotion when they arrived, with Venus checking her ultra-hip Blackberry personal organiser for any messages.

Serena and Venus must like sticking to a routine.

As soon as they walked in, they did exactly as they'd done for the past three years.

They took over a section of an inside table with their extensive entourage and tucked into a feast.

Mum Oracene, a couple of cousins and a few others, plus the girls of course, thoroughly enjoyed the Mexican-style barbecue.

The party will still going strong late into the night, even though most of the players had toddled off to bed.

So who were the stayers?

Spanish player Feliciano Lopez was there to stumps, with countrymen including Juan Carlos Ferrero and hot-shot Rafael Nadal joining him throughout the night.

It got a little chilly as the night wore on out on the balcony, so the Mexican ponchos proved to be very popular.

Lopez was just one of the players to take advantage of the garb, but we can't say it was an Eye-catching fashion statement.

Arriving very early to the party was Aussie Jaslyn Hewitt and her Swedish boyfriend, Joachim Johansson.

The couple arrived around 6pm but only stayed half an hour or so.

On the men's side, James Blake, Tim Henman and Tommy Haas were all in good form.

Blake is always incredibly polite.