The Score: Recap the weirdest moments from the women’s draw at the Australian Open
It’s been a wild two weeks at Melbourne Park. And we aren’t just talking about what happened on the court. From awkward interviews to cringe-worthy Instagram accounts and plenty more, recap the most bizarre moments of the women’s draw.
Tennis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s been a wild two weeks at Melbourne Park. And we aren’t just talking about what happened on the court.
There was just as much drama off it as well.
From awkward interviews to epic chokes and world famous dolls, recap some of the weirdest moments from the women’s side of the draw.
TOUGH LOSS: PROOF SERENA’S CHOKE WAS WORST EVER
COMEBACK: HORROR STABBING WON’T DEFINE KVITOVA
WHAT A DOLL
GET out of her Qai Qai.
The presence of a doll swept through the Australian Open, but not just any doll — the “granddaughter” of Serena Williams.
The doll, dubbed Qai Qai, has more than 100,000 followers on social media and was snapped around Melbourne Park as her “grandma” made it to the quarter-finals.
Her “mom”, Williams’ daughter Olympia, might have to work on her parenting if her Aunt Venus’ observations are anything to go by.
“I’m really into the doll,” Venus Williams said. “I love Qai Qai. (It’s so good) because I personally see Qai Qai first-hand and the struggles that she goes through.”
LOVE-ALL
EARLY in the tournament, Elina Svitolina tried to play coy when asked about her budding romance with French player Gael Monfils.
Fast forward a couple of days and there was a joint Instagram account and cute shots holding hands and canoodling.
This game moves fast.
“He’s there for me, he’s supporting me, and I’m there for him as well,” Svitolina said. “He understands, I understand, what we’re going through. It’s great.”
DROPPING OUT
WE’VE heard many reasons as to why matches can’t be moved.
But bird poo? That was new.
As if things weren’t tough enough for Johanna Konta and Garbine Muguruza having to start their match after midnight — finishing after 3am — but efforts to have the match start sooner on another court were kiboshed by the local seagulls.
“We were actually going to go out to Court 3 to start but there was basically seagulls and poo everywhere,” Konta said.
“They had to clean the court and by the time they would have cleaned the court, it would have taken 10-15 minutes and we were in the same boat anywhere.”
CAMERA FAIL
IT’S a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Spider-Cam.
The drone-like air-conveyance, used at Rod Laver Arena for dramatic close-up and aerial shots, created a stir moments after Ash Barty defeated Maria Sharapova when it slammed into the chair umpire’s stand.
😳 Omg. The overhead camera nearly took out the umpire after Barty v Sharapova #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/pAcurnfOLJ
— katie (@_KT23) January 20, 2019
BLUSHING BRIT
KATIE Boulter was able to laugh about forgetting the new “super tiebreak” rules, but the blushing Briton went viral after a premature double fist-pump celebration.
The moment got the better of Boulter during the first round when she charged the net in celebration after racing to seven points — the number needed to win every other tie-break in grand slam history.
Under Australian Open rules, introduced last month, a player must get to 10 — not seven — in the deciding set super tiebreak.
“I got to take it light-heartedly,” Boulter said. “I ended up getting the win.”
SERENA’S EPIC CHOKE
IT just doesn’t happen to Serena Williams.
Well not before the tennis legend crashed out of the Australian Open after seventh-seed Karolina Pliskova rallied from 5-1 down in the third set to stun the power-packed American.
Pliskova fended off four match points in the epic quarter-final showdown to deny Williams and complete one of the biggest chokes in grand slam history.
OUCH!
SPARE a thought for the TAB customer that plonked $59,890 on three-time grand slam champion Angelique Kerber, the $1.11 favourite, to defeat American Danielle Collins.
Collins needed only 56 minutes to wipe out Kerber 6-0 6-2 in the round of 16.
A $70,000 bet on Madison Keys ($1.53) and $45,000 on Serena Williams ($1.32) also went under.
THE QUOTES
“We’ll kick back with a beer tonight and celebrate.” — ASH BARTY was set to enjoy a well-earned cold one after her run to the quarter-finals.
“I told myself I’m gonna die or win.” — A three-hour marathon in the heat took its toll on ELINA SVITOLINA
“She doesn’t really talk to anybody.” — 2018 champion CAROLINE WOZNIACKI says Maria Sharapova runs her own race. Who would have thought?
GRAND
How about the state of women’s tennis at the moment? The last nine grand slams have been absolutely anyone’s to win. While it was epic to sit back and watch Serena reign for all those years, it’s simply brilliant to enjoy such open competition.
SLAM
We sacked the wet bulb, but the heat stress scale still ruffled feathers on women’s semi-final day, with many suggesting that the roof of Rod Laver Arena should have just been kept shut from the get-go with temperatures forecast to push 40 degrees. For the fans’ sake, too.
FASTEST SERVE
1. Venus Williams (USA) 199kmh
ACES
1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 50
2. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 37
LONGEST MATCH
Round 3 — Elina Svitolina d Shuai Zhang (4-6 6-4 7-5) 2 hours, 55 minutes
SHORTEST MATCH
Round 1 — Camila Giorgi d Dailila Jakupovic (6-3 6-0) 53 minutes
Round 1 — Yafan Wang d Ellen Perez (6-4 6-0) 53 minutes
(SOURCE: Australian Open, Infosys)