The Score: US star’s vile umpire attack; Coco’s incredible Stosur connection
Sam Stosur’s career may be winding down but the veteran can take pleasure in knowing she played a major part in tennis development of rising US star Coco Gauff.
Tennis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sam Stosur may be limping to the end but she can take some comfort in knowing she played an important role inspiring the next big thing in women’s tennis.
Coco Gauff was paying particular attention to Stosur’s first-round match on Monday because it was against her best friend and doubles partner Caty McNally.
Watch over 50 sports LIVE on Kayo! Stream to your TV, mobile, tablet or computer. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
The 15-year-old American explained how the veteran Australian held a special place in her heart.
“Fun fact,” Gauff said. “Sam Stosur was my first autograph.”
Gauff got it at the US Open although we’re not sure if it was in 2011 when Stosur captured her maiden Grand Slam at Flushing Meadow by defeating Serena Williams.
VILE UMPIRE ATTACK
American Reilly Opelka’s campaign is over but not before the tallest player ever on the ATP Tour hurtled abuse at chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during a five-set loss to Italian Fabio Fognini.
“Let me ask you something, real quick,” Opelka said.
“Quick tell me, how many f***ing times has he thrown his racquet and you’ve given him s**t.
“You’re pathetic. You give me one warning after one throw. He’s thrown his three or four times bro.”
Opelka won the first two sets on Monday before rain stopped play at Melbourne Park. He would not win another.
Opelka cursing pic.twitter.com/x1S4j14HIB
— Federer Giants (@FedererJones) January 21, 2020
Just before going under 6-3 7-3 (7-3) 4-6 3-6 6-7 (5-10) in 3hr 58 min, the American lashed his own players’ box after putting a return into the bottom of the net.
“I hate tennis,” Opelka shouted.
Fognini didn’t get through unscathed either, fronting up to his press conference nursing a red and swollen right hand courtesy of a forceful racquet smash on Monday prior to the rain delay.
FOOD ROYALTIES
Greeks playing well at the Australian Open means only one thing ... a souvlaki named after them.
The incredible success of Stefanos Tsitsipas at last year’s Open has set the precedent for Greek players when they come to town.
Melbourne restaurant institution Stalactites jumped on board the Tsitsipas train last year and created a souvlaki named after the 21-year-old Greek gun following his stunning four-set win over Roger Federer in the fourth round.
They ended up selling $16,000 worth of the Tsitsipas souvlakis with his giant-killing run going all the way to the semi-finals where he lost to Rafael Nadal.
So when Athens-born Maria Sakkari, the 22nd seed, cruised past Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan in the opening round yesterday the souvlaki question was put to her.
“Maybe another dish, maybe we leave that for Stefanos,” Sakarrai said.
“Say Sakkari moussaka or pastitsio.”
A journalist then offered up the perfect suggestion to combine the traditional Greek meat and eggplant dish and the rising star’s name: “What about Moussakkari?”
Sakarrari loved it and even offered a slice of the action: “If I’m going to use it then you need copyright, royalties, 10 per cent.”
Over to you, Stalactites.
DOUBLING UP
World No.6 Belinda Bencic will make good on a pre-tournament bushfire appeal pledge after a spate of double faults on day two.
The Swiss star said she would donate $200 for each double fault committed during the Australian Open.
She is off to a good start after registering four double faults in her opening round win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
“It’s great, I could have done more, but I didn’t,” she laughed.
Bencic also recorded four aces in the straight sets victory. “I can maybe donate both,” she said.
VALUE ADDED
In this stats crazed world we live in, the Australian Open has thrown up a new one.
The latest stat is called ‘Serve Value’ which measures the quality of a player’s serve and somehow comes up with a rating.
It combines the speed, spin and placement on a 0-100 scale with most aces naturally scoring close to 100.
On the opening day of the Open big-serving American Sam Querrey (96) and Serena Williams (87) were the best value servers.
GRAND SLAM
The return of Ivan Lendl’s flappy cap. Unheralded Aussie wildcard Marc Polmans took us on a ride back in time when he trotted out a crisp white legionnaires cap which was made famous by Lendl three decades ago.
A bad call by the ump, and didn't Alexander Bublik show his displeasure!
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 21, 2020
Watch: @9Gem
Stream: https://t.co/yizqD30Pp8#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/U9Bx7YqaQ9
Chair umpire Gergory Allensworth has had better days. A blundered overrule resulted in a comical Kazak meltdown from Alexander Bublik who charged the chair after the review showed the ball to be 10-15cm in: “Are you insane? Don’t look at me, are you insane?”. He capped the grand dummy spit by slowly falling to the ground to rapturous applause.
THE WHISPER
Plastic water bottles have disappeared from the media centre at Melbourne Park and we hear that could also be the case on court in the near future with a push by eco-friendly players gaining momentum.
Originally published as The Score: US star’s vile umpire attack; Coco’s incredible Stosur connection
‘Shut them up’: The missing jewel driving Kyrgios’ return
After almost two years out of the game tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios is finally ready to return. In a wide-ranging interview with FATIMA KDOUH, he discusses Novak, Nadal, Piers Morgan and his plans to come back to the court.
‘Bloody long journey’: Hewitt’s update on son
Lleyton Hewitt has revealed his excitement at son Cruz’s progress ahead of a potential Australian Open return.