Australian Open: Serena Williams slams random drug testing
On her way out from Melbourne Park, Serena Williams didn’t miss a chance to score one final point, using her post-match press conference to give a drive-by to ‘random drug testing’.
Tennis
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If there is one thing that gets on Serena Williams’ goat the most it is the randomness of drug testing in women’s tennis.
After a shock third-round exit, Williams used her post-match press conference to give the drug testing agents a clip on the way out of Melbourne Park.
Nobody saw it coming, either, not even the journalist that lobbed a reasonable innocuous and flowery half volley.
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“Can you describe what was going through your mind when you were walking down the hallway back to the locker room today?” the journalists asked, to which Williams replied.
“I don’t know. I don’t know actually. I think I was just thinking about getting to the locker room and press, “random drug testing”, so...” Williams replied with the use of sarcastic finger quote marks.
WILD SHOE CHASE
Got a pair of Adidas size 11.5US tennis shoes spare?
If so, maybe give Australian Open third-round contender Ernests Gulbis a buzz.
The 31 year-old Latvian, currently without a clothing sponsor, rolled the dice and brought just one pair of tennis shoes to Melbourne, thinking it would be easy to buy additional pairs in the city.
“I called Adidas. They didn’t have one model, not one, nothing,” Gulbis said.
“So I had to call like 10, not 10, but maybe at least seven other stores, and only two stores had my shoe size.
“So I think I bought the last two pairs (in Melbourne).”
The situation could escalate if Gulbis defeats Frenchman Gael Monfils today as the second pair already has holes in them.
The only other option, it seems, is asking around the locker room and players’ lounge for a spare.
“I’m not sure who is 46 Adidas. I don’t know. I don’t know. Dominic (Thiem) is a smaller size,” Gulbis said.
“(Stefanos) Tsitsipas, I don’t know what size he is.
“It’s funny to even think about it. It’s unbelievable.”
COMMANDO, NICK?
Nick Kyrgios is known to be a bit of a jokester.
So, how much of what the Canberran says to the media should be taken with a grain of salt.
But the 24 year-old master of deflection has certainly got tongues wagging at Melbourne Park after being grilled about his ‘Rafa’ impersonation.
“Whose Rafa was better, yours or Gilles?” a reporter asked, to which Kyrgios replied.
“I don’t know. I don’t wear underwear, so... probably Gilles.”
Short of a wardrobe malfunction, it is difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt whether or not Kyrgios is extracting the you know what or, being dead serious.
A former ATP star probed on the possibility of playing best-of-five-set tennis without underwear painted a vivid picture.
“I couldn’t play with my s*** going all over the place,” the retired tour professional said.
HAVIN’ FUN, KYRGIOS-STYLE
Nick Kyrgios did all the tuning he needed for his fourth-round clash on Show Court 3 on Friday, playing with glamorous mixed doubles partner Amanda Anisimova.
There was a bit for everyone, from relaxed courtside chats to the giggles and doe-eyed smiles, as well as the friendliest of low-five caresses between points.
Kyrgios just wants to have fun, and did that and then some.
“She’s an amazing person,” a coy Kyrgios said after the third-round win when asked about Anisimova.
“I’m just looking forward to go out there and hopefully … I know it’s not going to be easy for her (losing her first-round singles match) to be around the tournament.
“Hopefully I can get her up, bring some good vibes …
“I’ve been excited for this for like a month and a half.
“I’m like a little kid at the moment. I’m pretty excited.”
SASCHA SLAPS TROLLS
Alexander Zverev doesn’t pay close attention to social media much anymore, especially during big tournaments.
The German star opened about the troll toll which Millennial athletes get subjected to.
“I think with the social media, I think with the mobile phones that we have, the pressure the media puts on us, other people put on us,” the 22 year-old said.
“To read what’s going on, to read the press, you (used to) have to buy a newspaper, go on the laptop and search for it.
“Now you open up Instagram, there’s five million people that have an opinion about you all of a sudden.
“It’s maybe more difficult for us now.”
Zverev prefers to stay in the tennis bubble and ignore the keyboard warriors – as best he can.
“Even though when people say they don’t care, they still read it. In the back of their mind, they’re aware of it,” he said.
GRAND
Ash Barty giving her strength and conditioning coach Mark “Tubs” Taylor a clip in her post-match on-court interview for not being able to “catch a ball to save himself” in the team’s pre-game footy kick-to-kick ritual.
SLAM
Splitting the only two Greeks in the draw across two ticketed sessions on Margaret Court Arena is a true Greek tragedy. Don’t be greedy, give the people what they want.
WHISPER
Which star player got too merry in Brisbane and came to the attention of tennis authorities, who acted responsibility by confiscating a set of car keys.