‘You are a small cat’: Two words send Australian Open into meltdown

Daniil Medvedev’s full Australian Open tantrum has been revealed with one phrase becoming instant sporting legend.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev argues with the umpire. Photo by MICHAEL ERREY / AFP.

Daniil Medvedev’s full Australian Open tantrum has been revealed, including one two-word phrase that is going viral.

The Russian completely crossed the line in an angry tirade at umpire Jaume Campistol late in the second set of his rollercoaster semi-final victory against heated rival Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Medvedev launched into an angry tirade at the chair umpire after he lost his serve late in the second set of his 7-6 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

After first complaining about fans yelling out during his serve, Medvedev turned his fury towards the umpire when he continued to complain about Tsitsipas appearing to be gaining an advantage from coaching advice coming from his father in his players box.

Medvedev screamed at the chair umpire to “look at me” at one point and repeatedly asked the umpire if he was “stupid”.

Despite the extraordinary blow up, Medvedev was not given a code violation for attacking the official.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev walks past the umpire seething. Photo by William WEST / AFP.

It was in his second tantrum at the completion of the second set when Medvedev dropped an instantly iconic phrase that is dividing tennis commentators around the world.

He went at the umpire furiously before storming off the court at the end of the set, calling the official a “small cat”.

“You understand Greek? You understand Greek? Next time it should be a code violation,” he said, complaining about why Tsitsipas had not been given a code violation.

“If you don’t, you are, how can I call it, a small cat. Repeat the answer to my question. Will you answer my question?”

Daniil Medvedev: If you don't, you are a...how can I call it? Small cat 😹 pic.twitter.com/rpbsgH2yY7

— John Chong (@johnkawa) January 28, 2022

The phrase has divided the tennis world with some suggesting it was simply a comment lost in translation.

Others have labelled it vulgar and crude, while some have applauded the cheeky use of the phrase and how quickly it popped into the No. 2 seed’s head in the middle of the battle.

“You guys (reporters) are laughing so we can say it was funny but I was definitely out of my mind if I can say it like this,” Medvedev said in his post-match press conference.

“I was not controlling myself anymore about anything and that’s actually why I am really happy to win, because many matches like this I would go on to do mistakes because you lose concentration a lot when you get in this heat of the moment.”

Medvedev was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in Australia at the time and tennis feeds were flooded with comments about his phrase.

You have to admit that “small cat” is just awesome to think of considering adrenaline etc. 😀

— SaÅ¡a Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) January 28, 2022

"If you do not say anything, you are a small cat"

Medvedev is the president

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) January 28, 2022

Small cat is the only insult I will use until forever

— Roger Oldridge (@roger_oldridge) January 28, 2022

Or as Daniil Medvedev would say… a small cat.. https://t.co/4TKi02YNAF

— Julian Abbott 💉💉💉 (@JulianBAbbott) January 28, 2022

Bullying at school in 2022:

“I don’t want him on my team, he’s a small cat.”#AusOpen

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) January 28, 2022

"You are - how can I say it - a small cat!" 🤣 #Medvedev#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/dFZads7fTQ

— Punt Club (@puntclub) January 28, 2022

“Did you just call me a cat?”

“No, I called you a small cat.”

“Oh, that’s much worse.” #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/vuG2zkd8VH

— Jon Tuxworth (@Tuxy81) January 28, 2022

Medevedev’s first tirade was also an act of verbal abuse that was not punished by the chair umpire.

“Are you mad? Are you mad? His father can coach every point,” he said in a tirade caught on TV cameras.

“Are you stupid? His father can talk every point? His father can talk every point? Answer my question. Will you answer my question. Will you answer my question? Can you answer my question? Can you answer my question, please? Can his father talk every point?”

He went on to say to the umpire: “Oh my god. Oh my god, you are so bad, man. How can you be so bad in semi-final your answer? Look at me. I’m talking to you!”.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev argues with the umpire. Photo by MICHAEL ERREY / AFP.

Tsitsipas has received several warnings this tournament for receiving coaching advice in the middle of his matches.

Tsitsipas was eventually given a code violation warning for coaching early in the fourth set and he failed to win another service game after receiving the violation at 1-1.

The match finished with the two combatants sharing an icy handshake at the net before the Melbourne crowd booed Medvedev as he stopped onto the middle of the court.

The No. 2 seed was booed again as he walked out to conduct his on-court interview with Jim Courier.

He was then booed for a third time when he said he would be having dinner on Saturday night and might not watch Ash Barty playing in the women’s singles final.

Courier said he asked Medvedev about his plans in an attempt to help the Russian endear himself with the hostile crowd, but his answer didn’t help.

He heads into the final against Rafael Nadal very much playing the role of the villain.