WATCH: Bethanie Mattek-Sands explores New Zealand's Stewart Island

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Players starting their season in Brisbane and Perth, Australia, got to meet all all kinds of animals before hitting the courts. But Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who kicked things off the ASB Classic in New Zealand, went an even wilder route.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion toured the country's Stewart Island with Big Glory Bay, a producer of premium ocean-farmed salmon.

While other players were holding snakes and taking quokka selfies, Mattek-Sands was fishing for blue cod ...

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Coaching young local players at the nearby Waihopai Tennis Club ...

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And, yes, trying the salmon.

At her season opener in Auckland, Mattek-Sands fell in the first round, 6-3, 6-2, to fellow Rio gold medalist Monica Puig.

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She has plenty of momentum to carry her into Melbourne, though, having recently returned to Grand Slam glory by winning mixed doubles at the US Open.