Source : ABC NEWS
The US ban on TikTok has some feeling glum, while a hot temper in the Aussie heat has burnt a hole in Medvedev’s pocket.
- Day eight live blog: Big names win on Sunday as Djokovic makes brief statement
- ‘Mockery of Serbian fans’: Djokovic protests against Channel Nine after reporter’s broadcast
- Today’s live blog: Join the ABC Sport team from 10:30am (AEDT) for all the action
Here are the five quick hits from day eight of the Australian Open, including when Alex de Minaur will play on day nine.
1. Stars lament TikTok ban
Coco Gauff lamented the TikTok ban after her win over Belinda Bencic. (AAP: James Ross)
As social media platform TikTok was banned in the US, tennis stars in Australia were eulogising the platform.
There wasn’t a lot to ask Aryna Sabalenka tennis-wise after she dismantled 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in their fourth-round clash, so the conversation turned to her favourite app and its impending ban.
“I heard about that,” said the world number one, who shared a TikTok dance with the crowd after her first-round win.
“This is not something we can control. I hope they figure it out, because I love TikTok.”
US third seed Coco Gauff also lamented the ban with her customary message on the camera lens reading “RIP TikTok USA”, followed by a broken heart.
2. Carlos goes crazy over the clock
Carlos Alcaraz was only on the court for two sets before Britain’s Jack Draper retired — more on that soon.
But while the Spaniard, hunting his first Australian Open and a career grand slam, had a relatively light day’s work, it was not without drama.
He had a verbal stoush with the chair umpire Fergus Murphy.
Alcaraz believed the shot clock between points was beginning too early, not giving him enough time to prepare for his serve.
Umpires start a 25-second countdown after announcing the score following a point, and Alcaraz was not best pleased after he got his towel and saw 10 of his seconds had already elapsed while serving for the first set against Draper.
“You are the only one; my fourth match, you are the only one,” Alcaraz said to Murphy after losing the game.
“It’s crazy. I finished the point, I went to the towel and didn’t take too much time, and then when I asked for the balls it’s 15 seconds [left]? This is crazy.”
Murphy does have a history with players not being impressed with his clock management, with Nick Kyrgios furious with him in 2019 over the same issue.
3. Heartfelt message for Draper from Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz was certainly annoyed during the first set of his fourth-round clash, but he showed his true class and character after its premature ending.
Alcaraz’s match with British 15th seed Jack Draper was short-lived, with the Brit coming off three consecutive matches that lasted five sets.
Draper fought but had nothing left in the tank after dropping the opening two sets.
His mind wanted to continue, but his body could not.
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Draper overcame injuries to make it to Melbourne Park, and the five-set battles he played in week one finally took their toll.
As Draper laboured off Rod Laver Arena, Alcaraz showed his class and character when speaking of Draper.
“I’m pretty sure he is going to come back stronger, as he always does,” Alcaraz said.
Almost as if to prove he really meant it, Draper was the focus of Alcaraz’s customary writing on the camera following a big win.
“You will be where you deserve. Get well soon, Jack!”
These are the moments in professional sports that elevate the game for neutrals.
4. Medvedev cops massive fine for racquet smashing outburst
Daniil Medvedev’s poor week in Melbourne has been given one final kick to the guts.
The fifth seed was stunned by American qualifier Learner Tien in a five-set battle that ended just before 3am last Friday.
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Sadly for the former US Open champion, that was not the final bit of pain from his week in Melbourne.
The Russian suffered an ill-tempered outburst during his first-round match against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej — a match that also went five sets.
A frustrated Medvedev repeatedly smashed his racquet against the small broadcast camera located on the net — producing some excellent images for fans.
Apparently, if you break it you need to pay for it.
The Russian was also fined for a code violation in his match against Tien, where he suffered another outburst, which led to him tossing his racquet.
In total, Medvedev was fined $US76,000 for his outbursts — that is roughly $123,000.
5. When is Alex de Minaur playing today?
Australia’s final representative in the main draw singles, Alex de Minaur, is back in prime time for his fourth-round clash with Alex Michelsen.
After playing during the day in the second and third rounds, organisers have put the eighth seed back under lights on day nine, stepping onto Rod Laver Arena to face 20-year-old American Michelsen after women’s second seed Iga Świątek takes on lucky loser Eva Lys from 7pm AEDT.
Elsewhere, top-seeded junior Emerson Jones and Cruz Hewitt continue their girls’ and boys’ singles campaigns on Court 3, while 15-year-old Renee Alame kicks off the day’s play on 1573 Arena in her second-round girls’ clash with 12th seed Alena Kovačková.
