NewsBite

Australian Open 2022: Re-live the weird and wonderful moments from the tournament

There were some bizarre blow-ups during the Australian Open — some from players, others from coaching staff. Re-live all the wacky moments.

Dan Batten, Emily Benammar, Liam Twomey and Sam Landsberger
12 min read
February 1, 2022 - 1:29PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Nick Kyrgios makes Karl Stefanovic lose it with tennis sledge (The Today Show)

With plenty going on during the Australian Open, it can be easy to forget what happened the day before — let alone on day one.

From bizarre meltdowns, the infamous ‘SIUU’ and Nick Kyrgios being Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 edition was filled with a host of weird and wonderful moments.

Re-live all of the obscure happenings from this year’s tournament.

Fans were cheering — and SIUUing — with gusto throughout the tournament. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Fans were cheering — and SIUUing — with gusto throughout the tournament. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

SPECIAL K’S THREATENED BY OPPOSITION COACH

The Special Ks stole the show on the court but they certainly ruffled some feathers — especially the world No.1 doubles pairing and their entourage..

Nick Kyrgios has had the last laugh after he and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis were accosted in the locker room, telling the No.1 seeds they defeated to “enjoy your flight home”.

Kokkinakis lifted the lid on the ugly confrontation that Tennis Australia is investigating, revealing it was Croatian doubles star Mate Pavic’s fitness trainer who came at the loveable Aussie larrikins in the bowels of Melbourne Park on Friday evening.

“I wasn’t sure if he was about to berate his players, and he came up to Nick and said we were being disrespectful,” he explained.

“Nick hit the opponent with a ball – but that’s normal. These doubles players have got unbelievable hands, so you have to go at them.

“They said we were showboating, but I’m sure if we played away in Croatia it would’ve been the same thing.

Mate Pavic argues with the chair umpire, with tensions spilling over in the locker room later. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Mate Pavic argues with the chair umpire, with tensions spilling over in the locker room later. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate their win over the Croatian No.1 seeds. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate their win over the Croatian No.1 seeds. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I think they were a bit salty they lost. They’ve won their fair share of tournaments so I thought they’d handle losing a little better than that.

“We’re just trying to entertain the crowd and get our energy up, we didn’t mean anything disrespectful. It was a little bit aggressive on his part though, for sure”

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has spoken to both Kyrgios and Kokkinakis about the incident.

“There was a lot of passion and a lot of energy in the stadium and I think that carried over beyond the stadium,” Tiley said.

“I have spoken to Nick and the team and this is not unusual, it’s not uncommon when you have a situation like this and players are beaten and they are expected to win the match and there is so much passion from the fans.

“What’s not unusual and what’s not uncommon is the passion, but certainly there are rules and there is conditions around how you respond at the end of the match.”

MAD MED’S MELTDOWN/STEFANOS STING

The meltdown to end all meltdowns.

Daniil Medvedev was found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct and making a visible obscenity during a semi-final meltdown that has cost him $17,000.

Medvedev snapped at chair umpire Jaume Campistol because he suspected Greek opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas was receiving illegal coaching in a foreign language during the second set.

“Are you mad? Are you mad? His father can coach every point? Are you stupid?” Medvedev screamed at the umpire in an ugly outburst after a double fault gifted Tsitsipas a break of serve.

“His father can talk every point? Oh my god. Oh my god, you are so bad, man.

“How can you be so bad in the semi-final, your answer? Look at me! I’m talking to you!”

Medvedev had another crack at the umpire during that set, saying the the umpire was: “how do you say, a small cat” if he wasn’t going to penalise Tsitsipas.

We’ll let you read between the lines on that one.

Plot twist: Medvedev was actually proven right — thanks to a covert sting operation which caught Tsitsipas red-handed.

The Greek star, a serial offender in this department, was stung around $7000 for a coaching code violation after Greek umpire Eva Asderaki was planted underneath his father and coach Apostolos Tsitsipas, signalling to Campistol that she heard tactical advice being given early in the fourth set.

It was Tsitsipas’s third coaching violation in four games, with his first two infringements costing about $6000 each.

Stefanos Tsitsipas looked over to his box after copping the violation. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Stefanos Tsitsipas looked over to his box after copping the violation. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Apostolos Tsitsipas was caught coaching his son.. Picture: Michael Klein
Apostolos Tsitsipas was caught coaching his son.. Picture: Michael Klein

SIUU SAGA: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Your ears were deceiving you.

The likes of Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios weren’t being booed by the Melbourne Park crowd – no matter how much is sounds like they are.

Players and fans were equally confused on day two of the Australian Open when it sounded like the John Cain Arena crowd was booing two of its favourite players.

The sound was being made after almost every big point and during post-match interviews.

So what was actually happening?

The ‘SIUU’ sound is actually attributed to the goal celebration of current Manchester United champion Cristiano Ronaldo.

And tennis’ big names got the same treatment— and it all started with Murray during his first-round win.

“Initially, I thought it was (booing), because there were some people booing during my practice yesterday,” Murray explained after his first round win.

“I have no idea what for.

“It was very irritating.”

But this was only the beginning, with the roar of the becoming a regular fixture — whether that be serious or ironically.

It seemed the more fans called it out — including former Aussie world No.1 Rennae Stubbs, who also implored the SIU crew to stop cutting their hair like mullets and — the louder the SIUUs became.

‘IMODIUM, GRAZIE’: STAR’S AWKWARD TOILET ISSUE

Some players thank their coaches after a win. Others give a shout out to their sponsors.

But Matteo Berrettini? He was all about Imodium – the over-the-counter medicine to help stop the runs.

After securing a second round berth, the Italian 7th seed wrote: “Imodium, Grazie!” on the camera as he left the court.

We can only imagine what he has been going through the past few days.

Actually, we don’t even want to try.

But the Italian star opened up on some of his off-court issues that became on-court issues after his match.

“I’ve been feeling sick with my stomach, let’s say that,” Berrettini said.

“It was really hard to play, especially the third and fourth set.

“(I was) playing a great match against Brandon … I told myself to fight, to do my best and in the end I won. I’m really happy.

“I was feeling that the match was changing a little bit there so I really held on with my mental strength mostly because my body wasn’t there.”

For everyone’s sake, we are hoping Berrettini has better luck with his stomach from here on out.

KYRGIOS GIFTS CHILD RACQUET AFTER FREAK ACCIDENT

There have been plenty of crazy incidents that have occurred in matches involving Nick Kyrgios, but this might just take the cake.

After a serve was called a let by the umpire early in the first set in the Special K’s semi-final doubles match, Kyrgios unnecessarily smashed the ball into the court.

He hit it so hard that the ball bounced up into the stands at speed and accidentally struck young child, named Finn, in the face, with Kyrgios’ hand over his face in horror saying it all.

After seeing the child was in tears, Kyrgios ran to his bag midgame and over to the stands to give the youngster one of his racquets, with the touching moment turning him from villain to hero in an instant.

The gift certainly helped ease the pain for Finn — and it will be a moment he will never forget.

Speaking a day later, Finn said he was excited to receive a tennis ‘bat’ from Kyrgios.

Disgruntled doubles opponent Michael Venus weighed in on this incident, labelling it a PR stunt.

MEDVEDEV SAYS CROWD HAS ‘LOW IQ’

Daniil Medvedev’s tumultuous relationship with the crowd was an intriguing subplot throughout the Aus Open, and there was plenty of back and forth.

And it all started when he said Melburnians who cheered between his serves “probably have a low IQ” as he lashed the Rod Laver Arena crowd as “disrespectful”.

The big-serving Russian waltzed past Nick Kyrgios in four sets, but it was his encore match against the public – and awkward on-court interview with Jim Courier – that stole the show.

The Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired ‘Siuuu’ chant spread like Omicron across Melbourne Park crowds, and while several players have mistaken it for boos it appeared Medvedev was actually on the receiving end of distasteful jeers.

When they reappeared during the Courier chat a frustrated Medvedev pleaded with fans to zip their lips and at least show Courier – the 1992-93 Australian Open champion – respect.

“Sorry, I can’t hear you,” Medvedev, 25, said when Courier asked him a question as he looked around in disbelief.

“Show some respect for Jim Courier. Let him speak please. If you respect somebody, at least respect Jim Courier.”

Medvedev then cheekily wrote “Siuuuu!!” above his signature on the TV camera as he exited the arena before questioning the intelligence of the fans in the stands.

“It’s not anger, it’s just a little bit disappointing,” Medvedev told EuroSport.

“Many games (on my serve) were actually quite easy for me – a lot of aces. Then I have a break point, second serve and people are cheering like you already made a double fault.

“That’s just disappointing. It is not everybody who is doing it, but those who are doing it probably have a low IQ.”

Medvedev then added to the theatre after his next match, talking about his “relationship” with the crowd.

“I think every good relationship must have its ups and downs so I think it’s good. it’s entertaining and it’s real you know, it’s not like ‘hey, goodbye, see you next time’, there is some relationship going on,” Medvedev joked.

“Hopefully I can come many more years here – and as I say, I don’t think it’ll be only good ones. But I hope there’ll be more good times than bad times, otherwise it doesn’t work.”

CONFUSION SURROUNDS STAR’S MID-MATCH TWEET

Stefanos Tsitsipas is no stranger when it comes to quality social media content.

But tonight he is entering areas few have seen before.

Tennis fans have been left confused after a bizarre tweet was sent from the Greek star’s official account while he was on court.

“This is the Mondayest Monday that ever Mondayed,” the tweet said.

Given he was losing at the time the tweet went live, it may have been an accurate reflection of how he was feeling.

Tennis fans were then left to guess whether his account had been hacked, if it was a scheduled tweet or if someone else with access to his account sent it.

‘SINK P*** AND COME HERE’

The Special K’s exhilirating quarter-final display on-was topped by their epic post-match intervew.

Kyrgios made his doubles intentions very clear, while Kokkinakis encouraged the young, rowdy crowds that filled the stands to keep up the intensity — and the pre-drinks.

“When we walk through that tunnel, there is no feeling like it. We don’t want anything else. This is perfect,” Kokkinakis said.

“I haven’t played in a doubles match, even a singles match with this kind of atmosphere.

“Sink p*** and come here!”

Kyrgios said: “I’m not finished, I want to win this f***ing thing!”

Sure enough, they did.

But the pair’s relationship with the raucous Aussie crowd wasn’t always positive, with Kyrgios firing up at unruly fans in both the semi-final and final for yelling out during his serve

“Please don’t call out while I’m f****** serving!” he bellowed after a fan asked for an underarm serve.

AZARENKA’S SON GATECRASHES INTERVIEW

Few would have thought anything could steal Victoria Azarenka’s thunder after she ousted No 15 seed Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open.

Cue her son Leo.

The 5-year-old joined his mum for her post match press conference and stole the show.

Sporting a pair of sunglasses, Leo was asked what he made of the match and her performance.

“Awesome,” he said.

It was an outstanding Aus Open debut for the youngster who spent the rest of the media call breathing heavily into the microphone.

“Good job,” Azarenka said afterwards.

WORLD NO.2’S SERVING YIPS

Not even the world No.2 is immune from the yips.

Aryna Sabalenka’s prolific double fault count – recording 56 across the tournament, more than double any other female competitor - was one of the most obscure statistical elements of the Australian Open, considering her quality as a player.

Early in the tournament, her damning double fault record was laid bare, showing that she had recorded double faults in 57 of her 117 doubles faults for the year.

Aryna Sabalenka's horror 2022 serving record.
Aryna Sabalenka's horror 2022 serving record.

But Sabalenka was able to see the funny side of her serving yips.

After her comeback win over 31st seed Marketa Vondrousova, she left the crowd cheering with a hilarious self-depricating response.

“I’m really happy right now and I’m mostly happy with only getting 10 double faults,” she laughed, raising her arms and fist pumping as the crowd cheered.

“Yeah I’ve had some trouble… I’ll just keep working on my serve and keep hoping that it will get better with every match

“Thank you so much for the support guys, the atmosphere here was unbelievable today.”

KYRGIOS’ BIZARRE TAUNT THAT SPARKED DOUBLES FURY

Was this the moment that sparked a furious reaction from the world No.1 doubles pair?

New crowd vision has emerged of Nick Kyrgios taunting Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic by imitating the bobbing tennis movements from renowned sports game Wii Sports.

This is believed to be the action which tipped the Croatian duo over the edge, arguing with the chair umpire after the incident.

Pavic was heard on the on-court microphone telling the umpire, “This is p***ing me off … don’t let that happen.”

Was Kyrgios taunting Croatian doubles pair?

Later, the situation boiled over when Kyrgios and his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis were allegedly threatened by the coach and trainer of their opponents in the Melbourne Park gym.

“Me and Nick are trying to be professionals so we went into the gym after our doubles match maybe for one of the first times ever,” Kokkinakis said of the altercation on Sunday.

“I’m going to be honest – it was Pavic’s fitness trainer who came up and he smashed a foam roller against a pole as hard as he can and I thought he was kind of joking.

“I wasn’t sure if he was about to berate his players, and he came up to Nick and said we were being disrespectful.

“They said we were showboating, but I’m sure if we played away in Croatia it would’ve been the same thing.

“I think they were a bit salty they lost.”

DJOKER GUESS WHO

Of course it’s been edited, but it’s too good not to share.

In the annual Australian Open game of Guess Who, a brilliant editing job has been done to the Novak Djokovic video.

Andy Lee, the face of the game, is sat opposite the world No 1 as their game gets underway.

It takes Lee just one question to ascertain he is Djokovic.

“Do I have a legitimate Visa to stay in the country?” Lee asks as Djokovic looks uncomfortable.

After a long pause, comes the answer. “No.”

As Lee flips down the players on his board only to be left with one, the Serb flies into a rage and throws the game and table across the room.

Just to be super clear, this video has been edited and is for entertainment value only!

An incredible action shot of the seagull that halted play — with its dinner! Picture: AFP
An incredible action shot of the seagull that halted play — with its dinner! Picture: AFP

SEAGULL SHUTS DOWN PLAY

Sometimes rain halts play at the tennis. But we solved that problem by putting roofs on the major showcourts.

Sometimes a rowdy crowd might delay a point here and there or a player might need a quick bathroom break.

But a seagull swooping in for some dinner and finding a bug on one of the biggest show courts in the world?

That’s a new one.

But that’s just what happened on Margaret Court Arena last night at a pivotal moment in Kaia Kanepi’s clash wit Aryna Sabalenka.

Locked in a 9-minute game at 4-3, third set, the bird arrived. play was halted.

“It was quite crazy,” Kanepi said afterwards.

“I think I felt a bit cold after the seagull scene. Otherwise it wasn’t that bad. Actually I was happy to start early and not that late.”

More Coverage

How Special Ks changed doubles forever in two special weeks
Sam Landsberger
Djokovic breaks silence on Nadal after record-breaking epic
Lauren Wood, Sam Landsberger, Scott Gullan, Joe Barton, Emily Benammar

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open-2022-relive-the-weird-and-wonderful-moments-from-the-tournament/news-story/d2633c4ab859ce155e5ac32fe67f75cd