Australia’s Storm Hunter unwittingly had the most effective seat in the home for one of many largest blow-ups of the Australian Open when doubles associate Katarina Siniakova erupted throughout their second-round match on Saturday.
Down a set to Australian duo Maddison Inglis and Destinee Aiava, Siniakova and Hunter had been in management at 4-2 within the second set earlier than the Czech star inexplicably double-faulted to present again the break.
That triggered an explosion from Siniakova, who threw down her racquet in anger earlier than smashing it as she returned to her seat. An emotional Siniakova then turned her consideration to her field as commentators expressed their issues concerning the doubles star.
“There’s one thing happening isn’t there?” stated commentator Abigail Johnson.
“I believe that is one thing deeper than a match.
“She’s been in harder conditions than this.
“It’s regarding to be trustworthy as a result of we don’t know these gamers as folks … something might be taking place off the court docket and we don’t know.”
However removed from unravelling, Siniakova – with the assistance of world No.1 Hunter – recovered because the pair took the second set 7-5 and sealed the match with a snug 6-1 third set.
The third seeds face Russians Ekaterina Alexandrova and Anna Kalinskaya this afternoon within the third spherical.
11AM: ‘SPECIAL MOMENT’ AWAITS HEWITT
There’s a well-recognized identify on the schedule immediately: Hewitt.
And whereas Lleyton Hewitt was a mainstay at Melbourne Park for 20 years, it’s son Cruz who will momentarily steal the highlight immediately.
The 15-year-old will immediately take to Courtroom 3 as a wildcard within the junior boys’ singles occasion – taking over sixth seed Alexander Razeghi.
And Hewitt Snr, who had a warm-up hit together with his son this morning, couldn’t be happier.
“Simply unbelievably proud, to be trustworthy,” Hewitt stated on Channel 9.
“They requested me late final evening if I might exit and heat him up this morning on Present Courtroom 3. Only a actually particular second.
“My first ever fundamental draw match on the Australian Open was truly out on Present Courtroom 3 as nicely.
“Just a few nice reminiscences coming again of me taking part in right here. He’s been across the traps, however he’s labored extraordinarily exhausting to get this chance. He’s taking part in nicely.
“He’s nonetheless very younger. That is all a studying expertise. That’s what the junior occasion is all about.
“You need to get the chance to play right here in seniors someday. He’s been lucky sufficient to get a wildcard and hopefully goes out, has numerous enjoyable.”
10.15AM: FREAKISH NOVAK STAT BEHIND DECADE-LONG DOMINANCE
Novak Djokovic will subsequent face French veteran Adrian Mannarino, however one outstanding statistic has emerged concerning the world No.1’s unimaginable Australian Open dominance.
And it spells the tip of Mannarino’s spectacular run this season.
Why? As a result of apart from being a 10-time Australian Open champion, Djokovic has solely proven frailties towards one explicit subset of tennis gamers in recent times: the bespectacled sort.
As a result of immediately marks the ten 12 months anniversary of Djokovic’s final defeat at Melbourne Park… to a participant not carrying on-court glasses.
His solely defeats in that point got here to Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, in 2017, and South Korea’s Hyeon Chung the next 12 months.
After all, ten years in the past Djokovic was defeated by eventual champion Stan Wawrinka within the 2014 quarter-finals.
9.30AM: WHY ‘UNBLEMISHED’ DEMON WILL TRIUMPH
Alex de Minaur faces the largest take a look at of his Australian Open up to now within the type of fifth seed Andrey Rublev tonight.
The powerhouse Russian is a huge step up at school in comparison with De Minaur’s three vanquished foes, however retired Australian star John Millman is assured the Demon has what it takes to achieve a maiden Melbourne Park quarter-final.
And knocking Novak Djokovic off Rod Laver Area for the prime-time evening match might be De Minaur’s secret weapon towards the big-hitting Rublev.
“Andrey hits absolutely the cowl off the ball,” Millman stated on Channel 9.
“I realized that first hand when he annihilated me in Shanghai, however Alex is among the quickest guys on tour, so I believe it’s on this evening time situation on it’s going to be just a little bit slower.
“I believe he’s going to make use of his wheels to get into the purpose and he’s quietly assured.”
De Minaur’s excellent begin to 2024, which included a United Cup victory over Novak Djokovic, is extra cause to be assured.
“He hasn’t misplaced in 2024 … his document has been unblemished and I believe that he’ll take that confidence in with him,” Millman added.
“I’ve by no means seen him so relaxed on the Australian Open. I believe he’s contemporary, he’s able to go.
“He’s simply entered into the highest ten for the primary time in his profession, and I believe he has that perception now, which is a harmful Alex de Minaur.”
9.10AM: DJOKER, DEMON, HEWITT: AUS OPEN’S BIGGEST DAY YET
Son of a gun Cruz Hewitt will start his Australian Open Junior Championships marketing campaign on Sunday after being granted a wildcard entry into the match.
The son of Australian tennis nice Lleyton, the 15-year-old will tackle American Alexander Razeghi in his opening match.
Cruz has been described as “among the best younger gamers in Australia”, with former Australian girls’s star Alicia Molik likening his sport to each his father and Nick Kyrgios.
Lleyton – a Wimbledon and US Open champion – will subsequent week be honoured with a corridor of fame ceremony and bronze bust at Melbourne Park.
Cruz shouldn’t be the one son of a former tennis star competing within the junior match, with American Jagger Leach one other participant with well-known bloodlines.
Leach is the son of Lindsay Davenport, who gained the Australian Open in 2000 amongst three profession grand slam singles wins.
Leach gained his first-round match towards Russian-born Daniil Sarksian on Saturday, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
— Chris Cavanagh
8.45AM: UKRANIAN STAR TORCHES ONLINE TROLLS
– Callum Dick
Ukrainian tennis star Lesia Tsurenko has hit out at on-line trolls who proceed to rejoice her straight-sets defeat to Aryna Sabalenka.
Tsurenko, 34, was knocked out of the Australian Open on Friday 6-0 6-0 by reigning champion Sabalenka.
The 2 gamers had a shared historical past. At Indian Wells final 12 months, Tsurenko withdrew from their scheduled third-round conflict, later citing a panic assault introduced on by an earlier dialog with WTA CEO Steve Simon about Russian and Belarusian gamers and the struggle in Ukraine.
World No.2 Sabalenka is a Belarusian participant. She has repeatedly fielded questions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday, Tsurenko and Sabalenka didn’t shake arms on the web as is the customary gesture on the finish of a match. As an alternative the 2 gamers acknowledged one another with a wave.
It has change into commonplace follow for Ukrainian gamers to not shake the arms of Russian and Belarusian rivals.
On Friday, Tsurenko stated it was a “nationwide place” that she would proceed to look at – some extent which didn’t sit nicely with on-line trolls.
Tsurenko hit out in an Instagram submit on Saturday evening to handle the barrage of abuse she had obtained.
“I seen that my loss yesterday made lots of people comfortable. So my new submit is for you,” Tsurenko wrote on Instagram.
“Please be happy to specific no matter you need to me. I hope it will make you cheerful for just a little bit longer.
“However , on the eve of the brand new 12 months, my pal returned from Russian captivity after 1.5 years. Misplaced 55 kilograms of physique weight and with an an infection in his legs, however the principle factor is that he’s alive. That is actual happiness.
“So I hope that additionally, you will have actual causes to really feel comfortable in your life, and never due to the lack of some random tennis participant whom you have got by no means even met in your life.”
8AM: WELCOME TO THE SECOND WEEK!
Good day and welcome from Melbourne Park, the place – owing to the early begin to the match final Sunday – we’re formally into the second week.
The fourth spherical is upon us, and which means the tennis is about to go up a gear.
We now have a day-time deal with immediately, with Novak Djokovic making a uncommon look within the Melbourne solar when he takes on Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in his first daytime fixture in 1075 days.
However first, American Coco Gauff has an opportunity to creep nearer to a different grand slam victory when she takes on Poland’s Magdalena French.
And, in fact, tonight we’ve Australia’s Alex de Minaur and his quest for a maiden quarter-final look at his residence slam. In his means is fifth seed Andrey Rublev, with that match set for the prime time slot on Rod Laver Area tonight.
Initially revealed as Australian Open day 8 dwell: Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur in motion in fourth spherical
