Australian Open day 13: Live scores, all the latest news from Melbourne Park
One hour into the second semi final, Daniil Medvedev would have been thinking about what movies he wanted to watch on the plane home. Three hours later, he’s thinking about his chance to win the Australian Open.
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Russian ironman Daniil Medvedev has dragged himself off the canvas, fighting back from two sets down to win through to his third Australian Open final.
In a brutal war of attrition against German Alexander Zverev, it was the No.3 seed who finally prevailed 5-7 3-6 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5) 6-3 after an exhausting four hours and 18 minutes.
He will face Italian Jannik Sinner on Sunday night after he took down defending champion Novak Djokovic hours earlier to make his maiden Grand Slam final.
It will be Medvedev’s sixth appearance on the final Sunday of a major with the previous five all involving two of the greats, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
His only success came at the 2021 US Open when he defeated Djokovic in straight sets.
Medvedev revealed he was a “little bit lost” in the third set but was proud at how he found a way out.
“There was a moment in the third set where I felt I was in trouble physically but I’m happy I got through,” he said.
The loss will haunt Zverev, the No.6 seed, who was in the box seat for the majority of the match but couldn’t find the knock-out punch when required.
MEDVEDEV MADNESS 💥
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 26, 2024
The moment @DaniilMedwed defeated Zverev 5-7 3-6 7-6 7-6 6-3 to reach the #AusOpen final!@AustralianOpen
pic.twitter.com/Wbrhtd4hKu
He has now come up short in six of his seven appearances in Grand Slam semi-finals.
His only finals appearance came in the 2020 US Open where the result was disturbingly similar to what happened on Rod Laver Arena last night.
Zverev had led Dominic Thiem by two sets to love at Flushing Meadow, only to lose the match in a fifth set tie-break.
Medvedev’s extraordinary comeback continues his recent domination of the German. He has now won six of their last seven matches and leads the overall head-to-head 12-7.
Doing it the hard way isn’t unusual for the 27-year-old who had to fight back from two sets down in the second round against Emil Ruusuvuori. He was also pushed to five sets in the quarter-final against No.9 seed Hubert Hurkacz.
This match-up of two of the game’s biggest hitters was always only going to go one way and become a survival of the fittest.
There were 40-shot and even a 50-shot rally in an epic 58-minute first-set which was a clear indication of what was to come.
Most figured this sort of affair would play into the hands of Medvedev but instead it was Zverev who stepped up when required in the second set.
He exposed Medvedev’s service issues in the fifth game to gain the advantage before breaking the Russian again to take the set 6-3 in 45 minutes.
The third set was much the same - it went for 62 minutes - with the key difference being it was Medvedev who caught fire in the tie-break to push the contest into its fourth hour.
There was a lot of discussion in the lead-up to the semi-final about the fact there was no love lost between the pair.
They’d previously traded barbs with Zverer labelling Medvedev “one of the most unfair players in the world”.
The tension flared late in the fourth set when the Russian asked the umpire for a replay of an out call. It was a clear stalling tactic and when there was an issue with the video coming up Zverev approached the chair umpire and said “he’s doing a show again”.
Rather than put his opponent off, it actually seemed to fire up Zverev who went on to hold his serve, forcing another tie-break where luck deserted him.
A return off the frame by Medvedev cruelly just dropped over the net to give him a set point which he converted with a booming ace.
Now the match was exactly where the Russian wanted it and he was methodical in the fifth set, turning the screws on the German for one of the greatest victories of his career.
12:15AM: HE’S DONE IT
Daniil Medvedev has achieved a comeback for the ages. Alexander Zverev has choked on the second-biggest stage in the Australian Open.
The match was all Zverev in the third set tie-break, up 2-nil against an out-of-sorts Medvedev.
What followed over the next two-and-a-half hours was nothing short of extraordinary.
Medvedev won two tiebreaks and managed a break in the final set - the first for two hours - to book his ticket to his third Australian Open final.
12:00AM: MEDVEDEV A CHANCE TO WIN THE MATCH
Daniil Medvedev is one more break away from something which was completely unthinkable three hours ago: booking a ticket to the Melbourne Open final.
He’s up 5-3 in the fifth and final set.
Can he do it?
11:50PM: ZVEREV GIVES THE NET A WHACK, MEDVEDEV BREAKS
Daniil Medvedev is in front for the first time since the second game of the first set!
The first break in more than two sets has finally come the way of the Russian.
Alexander Zverev is getting extraordinarily frustrated with himself here, missing two gimme points which most spectators in the crowd could have finished.
Play was briefly interrupted after Zverev, after missing an easy volley, slammed his racquet several times into the net.
He fought back from 40-15 down to force deuce, but he once again had a simple unforced error on break point to hand Medvedev the lead.
It’s getting very, very tense on Rod Laver Arena.
11:45PM: THIS ONE’S GOING THE JOURNEY, FOLKS
We’re four games in and this set is once again following the pattern of the two before it, with Medvedev and Zverev trading service games.
Both are trying to piece each other’s armour but having no luck.
Australian Open really fixed those late finishes... https://t.co/6VGCDUcS1T
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) January 26, 2024
11:30PM: THE TIE-BREAK SPECIALIST STAYS ALIVE
Daniil Medvedev has pulled the game to a fifth set after a second stunning tie-break on Rod Laver Arena.
Medvedev double faulted in the tie-break - the first double fault since the opening set of the match - but then balanced the ledger at 5-5.
The Russian pulled out some stunning drop shots this set, but one in the tie-break came off the frame of his racquet before a stunning ace slammed the door back open.
Down a set, locked at 5-5 in a tiebreak he *has* to win to keep his #AusOpen dream alive, @DaniilMedwed just did this... 🤯🤯🤯
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2024
Then he sent down a thunderbolt first serve to clinch the set AND send us to a decider. #AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennispic.twitter.com/XdhiIrSnYe
11.20PM: MIND GAMES BEGIN
Daniil Medvedev has stopped play in the fourth to request a replay of a point he lost.
Channel 9 commentary, the crowd and - crucially - Alexander Zverev are all over what this actually is, a ploy to get under the German’s skin.
“This is a little bit over the top” says Todd Woodbridge on commentary.
Zverev approached the umpire and said “he knows it was inside the line”.
Zverev then won the game 40-nil.
We’re off to another tie-break at 6-6.
11:00PM: ZVEREV SAVES THREE BREAK POINTS
Alexander Zverev has saved three break points to keep his nose just in front of Daniil Medvedev in the fourth.
The two are locked 4-4, but Zverev is up two sets to one.
10:55PM: MORE TIT-FOR-TAT IN THE FOURTH
This set has left the exciting points at the end of the third behind, with some relatively routine tennis resulting in some relatively benign tennis.
Similarly to the third set, Zverev and Medvedev have traded service games, with neither really threatening to break.
Tied at 3-3.
10:35PM: MEDVEDEV SAVES HIMSELF IN THE TIE-BREAK
Daniil Medvedev has jammed his foot in the door right as it was closing on his Australian Open dream, saving himself in the tie-break to send this match to a fourth set.
Zverev had a mare early in the tie-break, with two very basic errors handing Medvedev a 3-1 lead.
A few points later it was Medvedev’s turn for a simple unforced error, but he quickly turned it around and won the tie-break 7-4 to keep the match going.
10:25PM: WE’RE OFF TO A TIE-BREAK
Daniil Medvedev simply won’t quit in this third set, hanging on to force a tie-break.
The Australian Open has also announced an attendance record for the second Friday of the tournament, with 56,763 coming through the gates across the day.
10:10PM: ONE OF THE POINTS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Daniil Medvedev has just won one of the points of the tournament after a stunning run to reach a drop shot.
It had been a long rally with plenty of backhands, but Zverev switched to the forehand and sent a drop shot over the net, which Medvedev sprinted in to knock back over the net, sending the German head over heels.
The shot brought up break point, but a simple unforced error brought it back to deuce, with Zverev nailing the game with an ace.
He; s up 5-4 and if he breaks Medvedev here, he’ll
Remember the point, Zverev serving at 4-4 deuce in the third set. Point of the tournament by a mile #AusOpen
— Dennis Ethan (@dens_Ethan) January 26, 2024
be back on Sunday night.
10:00PM: BACK AND FORTH CONTINUES
Zverev and Menvedev are going back and forward in this third set, with neither able to break through the other’s serves.
Zverev is up 4-3 with Medvedev to serve.
9.30PM: TWO SET LEAD FOR ZVEREV
Alexander Zverev has won the second set against Daniil Medvedev at Melbourne Park.
Medvedev saved one set point but was unable to save the secondwith Zverev’s serving too powerful for the Russian, even standing three metres beyond the baseline on average.
In contrast, Medvedev has had just half of his first serves go in, which is putting him under immense pressure in his service games.
9.15PM: ZVEREV FINALLY CLAIMS AN EDGE IN THE SECOND
After a few games holding serve, Alexander Zverev has finally broken Daniil Medvedev in the second set.
Medvedev saved three break points, but couldn’t save the fourth as Zverev drove home his advantage.
Zverev has generated eight break points, and won half of them. Zverev has won 59 points in total compared to 48 by Medvedev.
8:45PM: ZVEREV CLAIMS THE FIRST SET
Alexander Zverev has won the first set after a stunning 51 shot rally set up set point on Rod Laver Arena.
Daniil Medvedev threatened to break the German several times to force a tie-break, but after coming to the net 50 shots into a marathon rally he set up the final point.
It was a bold move considering just a few points before he’d come into the net and missed a gimme volley, sending it into the net.
Zverev threatened to unravel several times deep into the set, gesturing in exasperation to his box several times.
8:30PM: MEDVEDEV BREAKS
Daniil Medvedev has broken Alexander Zverev while the German was serving for the set.
Medvedev won a 34-shot rally in that game to set up break point, and he’s in his groove properly now after a very slow start.
8:25PM: ZVEREV TO SERVE FOR THE SET
Daniil Medvedev has broken back in the first set but Alexander Zverev is still ahead, and will serve to close out the first set at Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev closed with a nice ace to give him a boost, with the break breathing a bit of life back into the Russian, despite being down 5-4.
8:00PM: ZVEREV BREAKS AGAIN
Alexander Zverev has roared ahead in his semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev on Rod Laver Arena.
The German has been all over it so far.
7.50PM: MEDVEDEV, ZVEREV TAKE THE COURT
We’re under way for the final match of the night at Rod Laver Arena, with Daniil Medvedev taking the first game and Alexander Zverev taking the first break.
Zverev clean swept his Russian opponent to go up 2-1 to go into his service game in the first set.
6.45PM: SHINING LIGHT THROUGH IN JUNIORS
Australian teenager Emerson Jones has reached the final of the girls’ singles at Melbourne Park after clinching back-to-back victories on the same afternoon to give herself a shot at her first junior grand slam title.
The No.6 seed booked her place in the final after a 6-1 6-1 semi-final win over Bulgaria’s Iva Ivanova, just hours after having to finish off her postponed quarter-final match.
Rain halted Jones’ quarter-final clash against Japan’s Sara Saito on Thursday when she was trailing 4-1, but she fought back from a set down when the match resumed early on Friday afternoon to win, 3-6 6-1 6-1.
The 15-year-old will now play Slovakian top seed Renata Jamrichova, 16, in Saturday’s final.
“I did not expect this at all coming into it, but it’s a great feeling and especially at my home slam,” Jones said after her semi-final win.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the favourite to win this tomorrow, but obviously I’m going to give it my all and just have fun out there because it would be an amazing experience that anyone would want to do.
“I feel confident in my game a lot more, I feel like I’m playing pretty well right now and I’m a lot better mentally than what I was a couple of months ago.”
Jones, the daughter of Olympic triathlon silver medallist Loretta Harrop, is only the second Australian in 28 years to advance to a girls’ singles final at Melbourne Park.
The Gold Coaster is the first Australian to reach the girls’ final since Jessica Moore in 2008.
If she is successful, Jones would become the first Australian to win a major girls’ singles title since Ash Barty’s 2011 victory at Wimbledon - and the first local hope to win a girls’ singles title at Melbourne Park since Siobhan Drake-Brockman in 1995.
“That would be amazing and anyone would want to do that,” Jones said of the chance to emulate Barty by winning a junior grand slam title.
Jones’ older brother Hayden, 17, also competed in the boys’ juniors at Melbourne Park, but lost in the quarter-finals.
6:15PM: JANNIK HAS DONE IT.
It might be the defeat that plants the seed of doubt in Novak Djokovic’s determination to play on for as long as possible.
Dethroned on his own dancefloor, he has also been privately doing it tough as Djokovic the dad.
He has been away from wife Jelena and kids Stefan (nine years old) and Tara (six) for five weeks, missing his daughter’s first tooth falling out.
Djokovic has spent the past week repeatedly dousing talk of retirement. But he will fly home acutely aware that he will turn 37 before the next Grand Slam – Roland Garros – crowns a 2024 champion.
And if he can no longer get it done on Rod Laver Arena then what must Djokovic be thinking as he boards his flight home?
Asked on the eve of the tournament who he considered his biggest threat was, Djokovic answered: “Myself always first”.
He was wrong. This semi-final smashing was not about the sins of Novak. Rather it was the significance of Generation Next officially becoming his biggest threat.
It was finally doing what it had often flirted with, but ultimately failed to do for more than a decade.
FIRST GRAND SLAM FINAL!! #AusOpen • #AO2024pic.twitter.com/OUV9Pd3IJI
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2024
In last year’s Wimbledon final it was 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who defeated Djokovic, and in this year’s Australian Open semi-final it was 22-year-old Jannik Sinner who destroyed the 10-time local champion.
The 6-1 6-2 6-7 6-3 scoreline would’ve been barely believable before the match.
But Sinner has now saluted in three out of his past four matches against the Greatest of All Time.
Djokovic entered this blockbuster 10-0 in semi-finals and 10-0 in finals. It was close to 2200 days since he had been defeated in Melbourne. He was on a 33-match winning streak inside RLA.
But this was Djokovic’s worst start to a match at Melbourne Park since being thrashed 6-0 6-2 6-1 by Marat Safin in his Australian Open debut way back in 2005.
Djokovic lost his first two matches here against players ranked in the top-five here – that match (Safin was No.4) and a fourth-round battle against Roger Federer (No.1) in 2007.
He then won 17 consecutive matches against top-five players … another streak stopped by Sinner.
Can Australia claim the Italian?
He is coached by Aussie Darren Cahill, he was warmed up by Cruz Hewitt on Friday and he had Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams in his box earlier in the week.
When Djokovic strutted on to his favourite court in the world you wondered whether it had been relocated to Belgrade.
More than 20 Serbian flags were proudly waved in the stands.
But it took just 12 minutes to see that Jannik was no Joker. Sinner shot to a 3-0 lead and the No.4 seed’s sterling start also helped soften the pro-Novak crowd.
Djokovic looked uncomfortable sweating in the sun – he stood in the shade for as long as possible between points – and the scoreboard swiftly became uneasy for him.
After 35 minutes it was Sinner 6-1. When Djokovic held in the first game of the second set a “Novak! Novak! Novak!” chant rang around the stadium.
But Sinner would not be silenced.
The Italian national skiing champion (Sinner spent his junior years on the slopes) then held serve, broke serve and held serve again … to love.
Suddenly it was 61 3-1, and Sinner’s next service game was another hold to love.
He then got a look at a second break, but when that point was saved Djokovic called on the crowd to shake the stands.
That they did.
The place erupted. But the atmosphere was artificial.
When play resumed, Djokovic dobbed a lob too far and Sinner got another look at his shaky serve, which he snagged.
With the sun in Djokovic’s eyes, he could not get a look at Sinner’s serve. He failed to generate a break point for the contest.
Sinner closed the second set to continue his perfect record of 17-0 this tournament. The aura of Djokovic was fading … fast.
The mood in the stands started to move from ‘When will it click for Novak?’ to ‘Will it click for Novak?’
Sinner stumbled on a match point in the third-set tie-break, but it never truly looked like Novak was back.
Sinner’s success was significant. He has become the first Italian to reach an Australian Open singles final, and the fifth Italian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
At 22 he is the youngest player to reach the AO final since Djokovic won his first of 10 crowns in 2008.
And for the first time since Stan Wawrinka in 2014 someone outside ‘The Big Three’ (Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal) will become the prince of Melbourne Park.
Will King Djokovic ever reclaim his crown?
6.05PM: SINNER STILL ONE GAME AWAY
He can’t break Novak.
6.00PM: SINNER IS ONE GAME AWAY
Jannik Sinner is one game away from doing the unthinkable: defeating Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park.
Sinner has come out firing after dropping his first set of the tournament in the third, and is up 5-2 against the reigning champ.
Can he break Novak for a spot in the final here? Or does he wait for his service game for the killing blow?
5.55PM: SERVING MIND GAMES
Jannik Sinner has been working over Novak Djokovic with the serves, but the champion isn’t going quietly.
Sinner sent down some monster serves that set, one at 201km/h and another at 210km/h, but Djokovic has risen to the challenge.
The deciding second serve in the game which sent Sinner 4-1 up was a 200km/h thunderbolt, with his previous second serve more than 50 clicks slower on the radar gun.
Djokovic now needs a mammoth effort to stay alive in this match after two deuces went begging.
5.45PM: SINNER BREAKS NOVAK
After what seemed like an uneventful start to the fourth set, Jannik Sinner has blown it right open, breaking the reigning champion’s set to go up 3-1 in the fourth after a Djokovic backhand sailed long.
Djokovic has been trying to bring Sinner up to the net and it’s not been working well for the Serb, with several ripping returns set and another few this set.
5.25PM: GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME
To misquote Bill Lawry, it’s all happening here at Melbourne Park.
That tie-break has silenced the crowd at Rod Laver Arena to start the fourth set.
Djokovic has been re-energised after saving that match point.
Novak's back, alright! You can't count out the champ 👑 It's 6-1 6-2 6-7(6). @DjokerNole SAVES a match point on his way to sealing the third set 🧊#AusOpen • #AO2024pic.twitter.com/UBDpBXKKyW
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2024
5.05PM: WE’RE OFF TO A TIEBREAK
We’re off to a tie-break, with the set locked at 6-6 after the Italian held his service game with a huge smash..
Channel 9’s Jim Courier has pointed out Jannik Sinner has won 70 per cent of his second serves so far this match.
4.55PM: BREAK IN PLAY AS MEDICAL STAFF CALLED
We’ve had a break in play at Rod Laver Arena, as it looks like medical staff are attending to a member in the crowd.
It’s quite hot out there.
It looks like the gentleman in question is on his feet and has been helped from the stands.
4.45PM: WE’RE STILL NECK AND NECK
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are going punch for punch in the third set on Rod Laver Arena, locked up at 5-5.
And with a handy graphic up on the broadcast, we now know it's been 2195 days, 18 hours and 20 minutes since Novak Djokovic last tasted defeat on Melbourne Park.
Can the King come back?
4.40PM: NECK AND NECK
Djokovic and Sinner are still trading service games, with the third set locked at 4-4.
Crowd being very vocal in support of both players on Rod Laver Arena.
4.30PM: DJOKOVIC LOOKING MORE COMPOSED
Novak Djokovic is looking slightly more composed this set, with both he and opponent Jannik Sinner holding serve.
The set is locked at 3-3 after the Italian won the first two 6-1, 6-2.
4.10PM: DJOKER FENDS OFF BREAK RISK
Novak Djokovic has fent off a real chance for Jannik Sinner to blow him out of the water early in the third set, holding serve after the game went to deuce.
Sinner then held serve at the other end.
4.00PM: SINNER STUNS TO CLAIM SECOND SET
Jannik Sinner has stunned Rod Laver Arena.
The Italian has taken the opening two sets of the semi-final 6-1 6-2 against 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.
“This has been almost beyond belief,” commentator Jim Courier said astonished at what he was witnessing.
Can the Serbian turn it around?
3.20PM: ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ DJOKOVIC DROPS FIRST SET
Novak Djokovic looks uncomfortable.
Sweating in the sun and with a 0-3 start on the scoreboard, the 10-time Australian Open champion looks susceptible.
It took just 12 minutes to see that Jannik was no Joker. The Italian No.4 seed’s sterling start also helped soften the pro-Novak crowd.
Was Rod Laver Arena in Belgrade or Melbourne? When Djokovic walked out there were more than 20 Serbian flags waving proudly in the stands.
Djokovic held serve to close the gap to 1-3. But it was clear early his undefeated reign in semi-finals at Melbourne Park – he is 10-0 in semis as well as in finals – was set for a stern test.
Three games later Jannik Sinner took the first set. Game on.
2.30PM: WOODBRIDGE: DJOKOVIC HAS HIMSELF TO BLAME FOR SCHEDULING
Aussie great Todd Woodbridge says Novak Djokovic’s scheduling headaches were his own doing.
The world No. 1 has made no secret of the fact he prefers playing at night on Rod Laver Arena as he chases an absurd 11th Australian Open crown.
After being overlooked for the night session in the fourth round in favour of Aussie Alex de Minaur, the Serbian again played second fiddle to the showdown between Jannik Sinner and Russian Andrey Rublev, with his quarter-final against Taylor Fritz scheduled during the afternoon.
He said after his fourth round win: “It’s no secret I love to play at 7pm, but it wasn’t bad at all today. Not too bad.”
Woodbridge on Friday dropped some inside information that Djokovic knew what he was getting into with the tournament scheduling when he accepted the option of opening his campaign with a first-round match on the opening day of the tournament — a move that gave him an additional day of recovery.
“He started the tournament first, on the Sunday, and it’s my understanding he was very happy to do that because he felt that gave him extended rest throughout the tournament,” Woodbridge said on Channel 9.
“It gave him more time to get ready and at his age he’s looking for that. So that meant that by virtue of having his match play in the afternoon after two days off, this part of the draw has to play first because Zverev played a couple nights ago and so they need the extra rest and that gets them into the evening match.
“So today’s semi-finals were already scripted in the position they are. It’s not about him getting shafted or getting put in the day. It goes back to the very beginning of the tournament where he decided it was best for him to go on the opening day and he was going to go deep and it gave him the best chance of recovery throughout the 15 days.”
2PM: GREEK CONNECTION
- Joey Riordan
Nick Kyrgios has caused an almighty stir on social media with a social media post cheekily suggesting he might be defecting to play for Greece.
In an Instagram upload from Melbourne, the injured star was pictured at a restaurant alongside Greek world No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas, and his good mate and a fellow Aussie tennis star with Greek heritage Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kyrgios, who was born to a Greek father and Malaysian mother, captioned the image: “Things could be looking nice for team Greece soon.”
The image quickly went wild on social media with hundreds of comments, mostly of excitement with tennis fans daring to dream of the idea becoming reality.
Tsitsipas went along with the troublemaking, writing in the comments, “Davis Cup loading,” referencing the yearly tennis tournament where tennis stars represent their countries, while Kokkinakis simply wrote “trouble”.
Many other comments referenced Kyrgios’ infamous run-in with Tsitsipas at Wimbledon in 2022, a third-round match that sparked a war of words between the pair starting in their post-match press conferences and continuing during the Netflix documentary series Break Point.
In that program, Tsitsipas accused Kyrgios of bringing an “uneducated” approach to tennis in a fiery statement that he later walked back amid accusations of racism.
Therefore many fans were somewhat surprised to see the 25-year-old Greek star and the 28-year-old Aussie so chummy during this year’s Australian Open.
However Kyrgios’ suggestions of playing for a country other than Australia, if indeed he ever does return to the tennis court amid his ongoing rehabilitation from injury, should not come as a surprise to most onlookers.
The Canberran has long spoken about his perception that Australians have not accepted him as an athlete, and he recently rubbished any suggestions that he will compete for Australia at this year’s Paris Olympics.
In a column for Nine Newspapers in which Kyrgios also admitted that “part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over” – the tennis firebrand hit out at the treatment he received from the Australian Olympic Commission ahead of the 2016 Olympics.
At the time, then chef de mission Kitty Chiller said Kyrgios and then world No. 22 Bernard Tomic’s behaviour was being monitored.
Kyrgios said at the time: “Representing Australia at the Olympic Games has been a dream of mine since I was a kid … Unfortunately, while I have expressed every intention of trying to win a medal for my country in Rio, it’s very clear to me that the Australian Olympic Committee has other plans.”
He labelled the Australian Olympic Committee’s treatment of him as “unfair and unjust”, claiming the AOC had “chosen to publicly and privately disparage me”.
In his recent column, Kyrgios called the decision to ban him from those Olympics as “a disgrace”, and ruled out representing Australia in Paris.
“I wanted to play for my country (in 2016), I can’t say that I still have that desire,” Kyrgios wrote.
“And let’s be honest, I haven’t exactly felt like Australia has wanted me to represent it either. I’ve said before, I often feel more at home away from home.”
Meanwhile Kyrgios has impressed fans with his commentary for ESPN and Eurosport at this year’s Australian Open, while he’s also launched his Good Trouble podcast via Naomi Osaka’s production company Hana Kuma.
Kyrgios said his manager Stuart Duguid said: “This could be you from now on if you want it to be.”
“That’s a life people wish they had. Even the players on the circuit would love to be doing what I am doing now, but they have a different way of thinking,” Kyrgios wrote.
“They don’t have the global reach that I do. Otherwise, they would be doing it too. Their entire world revolves around playing tennis, and that’s never been me.
“Even over the past week being at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, I’ve been happy. Of course, there’s a part of me watching on that would love nothing more than to be out there, especially after what I managed to do at Wimbledon 18 months ago in reaching the final against Novak Djokovic.”
12PM: DOKIC’S ‘POWERFUL’ GESTURE AMID ZVEREV DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES
Jelena Dokic’s beautiful moment with Aryna Sabalenka has wowed tennis fans around the world — but there are some suggestions there is a dark truth behind it.
The Aussie tennis hero on Thursday night stole the show with a classy post-match interview with the Belarusian after the No. 2 seed powered through to the women’s final with a win over American Coco Gauff.
The defending champion is the hot favourite to go back-to-back when she faces 12th seed Qinwen Zheng on Saturday, having reached the final without dropping a set all tournament.
Sabalenka had already won the crowd over, but the loudest cheer came when Dokic made a second unusual request.
Following Sabalenka’s fourth round win on Tuesday, Dokic asked for a towel in a light-hearted moment that highlighted how easy it has looked for Sabalenka to blow away all her opponents at Melbourne Park.
“This might be a weird question, last one,” Dokic said.
“You’re winning so easy, you’re barely sweating ... I see you’re taking these towels every match, you’ve got at least one more match ... so now in front of 15,000 people you need to give me a towel because you’ve got too many.”
Sabalenka happily handed over one of the spare pieces of Australian Open merchandise.
Dokic followed it up on Thursday night by asking for another towel — that came with a classy explanation.
“After your last match ... you gave me a towel; they are very precious, everyone wants one, and I said, ‘You are winning so much, you probably have about 20 in your hotel room, so you can give me one — which you were so kind enough to give me’,” Dokic said.
“I’ll take another one, by the way. But what I want to get you to do, if you’re OK with it — can you sign it, because then we will auction it off for kids and women affected by domestic violence, is that OK?”
Sabalenka kindly signed both towels while the crowd erupted in applause.
The 39-year-old former world No. 4 has bravely shared her journey of ongoing recovery from domestic abuse, depression, online abuse and body shaming — inspiring countless fans around the globe.
Dokic revealed the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of her father during her tennis career in her book Unbreakable, released in 2017.
She revealed she suffered regular beatings with a belt or a hard-capped boot, including one incident which saw her knocked unconscious.
It’s why she told viewers on Channel 9 earlier this week about her plan to have Sabalenka sign the towels for charity purposes.
Her campaign has received no official public support from tennis organisations, including Tennis Australia and the Australian Open.
Her move comes at a difficult time for the sport with Alexander Zverev moving through to the semi-finals of the men’s draw following news on the eve of the tournament that he will face trial in Germany over allegations of domestic abuse.
Zverev has repeatedly denied the allegations.
In a long-running saga where the ATP Tour has been criticised over the limited scope of its own 15-month investigation into accusations made against Zverev, the No. 6 seed has been ordered to stand trial, beginning from May 31.
Zverev last year contested a decision from a Berlin court that ordered him to pay a $750,000 fine for allegedly assaulting a woman in May, 2020.
Zverev’s lawyers rejected the accusations in a statement, naming the woman as Brenda Patea, the tennis player’s ex-girlfriend.
The model in 2021 gave birth to a daughter Mayla. She said Zverev is the father of the child. The pair had already split when Patea announced she was 20 weeks pregnant.
Zverev has also strenuously denied claims he violently abused ex-partner and tennis player Olga Sharypova.
It’s why Zverev’s potential run through to the final of the Aussie Open would be a disaster for the tournament and for TV broadcasters around the world— while the accusation before the German court remains unheard.
The Australian Open’s official social media channels have been limited in the number of mentions it has given Zverev, while Channel 9’s light-hearted on-court interview’s with Zverev have made some fans uncomfortable.
After Dokic’s classy moment on Thursday night, many suggested her act was linked to the situation surrounding Zverev — who faces Daniil Medvedev in Friday night’s semi-final.
Sport reporter Molly McElwee from The Telegraph in the UK called Dokic’s act an “important” moment that will be remembered for a long time.
“This is really powerful on a couple of levels,” she said in a video posted on Twitter.
“One, because Dokic herself has already spoken about how she is a survivor of domestic abuse – abuse that she suffered from her father when she was a child and a player on tour.
“It’s also really important that in the context of this tournament Alexander Zverev has gone on a run through to the semi-finals, one of his best run at a major ever. But at the same time last week news broke in May he will be facing a public trial in Germany and facing domestic abuse allegations.
“It’s really interesting that Dokic, of her own initiative and independent of the organisations and organisers of the tournament (decided) to shine a light on domestic violence when one of the biggest stars in the sport is actually facing allegations of domestic violence at the moment.”
Other tennis fans have described it as a “middle finger” for tennis officials.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, is looking to become the first player to go back-to-back at the AO since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.
Zheng made relatively short work of Dayana Yastremska in the other semi-final.
Yastremska was looking to make history after becoming the first qualifier to make the semi-finals of the Australian Open since 1978 when Christine Dorey (nee Matison) reached the final four.
But it wasn’t to be for the Ukrainian. Zheng was simply too good.
After entering the top 10 with her quarterfinal win, Zheng will now move up to at least seventh in the world.
She becomes the second ever Chinese tennis player to make a grand slam final and, if she wins, it’ll be on the 10 year anniversary of Li Na’s 2014 Australian Open triumph.
11AM: ‘WOMEN ARE PROPERTY OF MEN’: TENNIS GREATS HATE SAUDI PLAN
Tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova criticised Saudi Arabian money flowing into women’s tennis on Thursday in an opinion article published in the Washington Post.
Evert, 69, and Navratilova, 67, each won 18 Grand Slam singles titles in a span from 1974 to 1991 and were among the early stars of the WTA Tour, which was founded in 1973.
They criticised WTA Tour officials considering staging the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in a joint story headlined: “We did not help build women’s tennis for it to be exploited by Saudi Arabia.”
Navratilova and Evert said they poured their hearts into building a tour “founded on equality to empower women in a male-dominated world” but added “That work is now imperilled.”
“WTA Tour officials, without adequate consultation with the players who are the very foundation of the sport, are on the verge of agreeing to stage the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia,” the players wrote. “This is entirely incompatible with the spirit and purpose of women’s tennis and the WTA itself.
“We fully appreciate the importance of respecting diverse cultures and religions. It is because of this, and not despite it, that we oppose the awarding of the tour’s crown jewel tournament to Riyadh.”
Saudi Arabian investments in sport have been criticised as a distraction for the nation’s human rights issues, notably the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) backing of the LIV Golf League.
“The WTA’s values sit in stark contrast to those of the proposed host,” the women’s legends wrote.
“Not only is this a country where women are not seen as equal, it is a country where the current landscape includes a male guardianship law that essentially makes women the property of men. A country which criminalises the LGBTQ community to the point of possible death sentences. A country whose long-term record on human rights and basic freedoms has been a matter of international concern for decades.
“Staging the WTA final there would represent not progress, but significant regression.”
8AM: LLEYTON HEWITT LAUGHS OFF ‘CRISTIANO RONALDO MOMENT’
Lleyton Hewitt’s new statue has been compared to a “17th century pirate” by tennis fans.
The US Open and Wimbledon champion, 42, was presented with the bust at the Australian Open in Melbourne after being inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.
The statue shows Hewitt’s head and shoulders along with his iconic hair and backwards cap.
However, fans are not convinced by the resemblance, or lack of, to the tennis icon.
One fan commented: “Why’ve they made Lleyton a 17th century pirate? This looks nothing like him. Congrats, I guess?”
Another added: “What a shame the bust looks nothing like him.”
A third also fumed: “It doesn’t look anything like him.”
While countryman John Millman took a cheeky jab on social media about the potential for an ugly outcome.
Despite the knocker Hewitt was impressed.
“I reckon they did a pretty good job. I love the hat backwards,” Hewitt said on Channel 9.
“I didn’t see it until I actually unveiled it last night … that was a weird feeling, because you’ve seen some of them in the past gone wrong.
“They did ask for a lot of photos to be taken last year, and I questioned that. I said I’d actually prefer it in my younger days when I was 20 or 21.
“But I’m very happy with it.”
7:00AM: AUS OPEN DOCKS STARS OVER $100K AND COUNTING
Player behaviour has been on point at this year’s Australian Open with just $115,000 collected in fines leading into the semi-finals.
With the absence of bad boys such as Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, a better-behaved Daniil Medvedev and perhaps the replacement of linespeople with Hawkeye it has been the well-behaved grand slam.
That could all change when fierce rivals Medvedev and Alexander Zverev renew hostilities in Friday night’s blockbuster semi-final.
Medvedev was fined $17,000 for a series of offences in his semi-final win two years ago.
Medvedev has picked up only one offence on his way to the final four in 2024 – a $9000 fine for unsportsmanlike behaviour during his marathon second-round win that finished shortly before 4am.
That stands as the largest fine dished out. Smiling Hubert Hurkacz – known as one of the nicest men on tour – received a $7600 fine for an audible obscenity during his loss to Medvedev on Wednesday.
Holger Rune ($7600 for unsportsmanlike conduct) and Tommy Paul ($6000 for abusing his racquet) are the other big-name men’s players to receive be hit in the hip pocket.
Australian Daria Saville copped the biggest fine from the women’s draw. Saville, 29, was sanctioned $7600 for making a visible obscenity during her round-one loss.
Saville still made $173,000 in prizemoney for reaching the first round of the singles and second round of the doubles.
The marquee female players have stayed out of trouble so far. Female players have been collectively stung $40,000 while men have couched up $75,000.
Kyrgios famously received a $171,000 fine for a meltdown in Cincinnati in 2019. He called the chair umpire a “f****** tool” as well as leaving the court without permission to smash two racquets. He returned to the court with the cracked racquets in hand.
At Wimbledon that same year Tomic forfeited all of his prizemoney ($80,000) for a perceived lack of effort during and “not playing up to the required standards” in his first round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tomic lost in less than an hour, His appeal to have the fine overturned failed.
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