Vegemite revulsion and a secret VIP wields her influence

It’s the age of the influencer and the Australian Open is providing contrasting examples on just how that power is wielded.

Taylor Fritz’s influencer girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, ate a mouthful of Vegemite on Instagram live on Monday, repaying the debt she acquired after the 12th seed won his fourth-round match the previous day.

Taylor Fritz looks on as Morgan Riddle reacts to eating a spoon of Vegemite.Credit: Twitter

Riddle declared she would eat a jar of the spread if Fritz overcame Greek star and last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Fritz won 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 and was presented with a big tub of Australia’s finest during the post-match interview.

In her video, Riddle swallowed the spread straight off a spoon – without any butter, toast or biscuit, mind you – and then immediately gagged and could be heard spitting it out off camera.

“What the f---,” she said to her boyfriend. “That was disgusting. If anyone had to eat a whole jar of that, nope, nope, nope.”

Watch the whole footage here:

There was no Vegemite in sight when another influencer, anonymous blogger Fashion Critical, was invited to attend the Open over the weekend.

The blogger has built quite an online following with witty commentary on star threads, without ever giving away her identity.

Open staff signed NDAs to protect blogger Fashion Critical’s identity. 

She duly published a lengthy Instagram post about her time, just as organisers would have hoped as they seek to bolster the tournament’s fashion credentials. Floating around the various food and drink outlets, Fashion Critical praised the event and papped The Bachelorette stars Georgia Love and Lee Elliott, and Riddle (pre-Vegemite). “Let this be a lesson to you. FC is always watching.”

But who is watching the watcher? The blogger uploaded a selfie of her own outfit, a frilly mini, but covered her face with a large tennis ball sticker.

Open Season was told that AO staff were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements to protect the blogger’s identity. “It’s a part of their mystique and appeal, so we had no issue respecting her privacy,” one staffer said.

Anything to boost the tournament’s style.

‘NAH,’ SAYS LI NA

The domestic abuse allegations against German player Alexander Zverev have been described as the “elephant in the room” of the Australian Open.

Zverev has denied the criminal allegations and is due to stand trial in May. Eyebrows were raised when two weeks ago, he was appointed to the ATP Player Advisory Council, a panel voted on by peers to form the “voice of the player body”.

While the 26-year-old has knocked back questions he has received about the allegations, his colleagues are avoiding the topic entirely.

Twelve tennis “legends” were assembled for the travelling press pack on Monday and spoke about everything from mixing tennis with parenting to rumours of a Saudi Arabian tournament.

Former world No.2 Li Na headlined the event, marking the 10-year anniversary of her Open championship victory in 2014.

“Times goes fast, I’m getting older and older,” Na said.

She declared the Melbourne tournament her favourite, and prompted laughter in the room when talking about the highs and lows of the game.

But when asked by Open Season about how the tennis community has responded to the allegations against Zverev, Na frowned, looked puzzled and fell silent.

There was an eight-second pause before Australian-player-turned-commentator Casey Dellacqua took over, and her media training shone through. “It’s not a place for us to speak on that right now,” Dellacqua said.

Some may say the silence is deafening!

WAITING FOR WINTOUR

While we’re on the topic of institutional responses to allegations of violence against women, Kate Jenkins was seen soaking up the sun at Rod Laver Arena on Monday afternoon.

The former sex discrimination commissioner was spotted taking in the riveting match between Daniil Medvedev and Nuno Borges. Jenkins handed down the Respect@Work report in 2020 and reviewed the workplace culture at Parliament House. Perhaps she might have some tips for the tennis world.

US tennis legend Billie Jean King was spotted behind the scenes, meeting players and friends. While she won’t be attending a match on Monday night, we’ve been assured she will soon be courtside.

While Jean King is here, keen spectator and Vogue legend Anna Wintour has been noticeably absent.

Anna Wintour at last year’s US OpenCredit: Getty Images

Open Season has heard whispers Wintour may attend this week, in time for Thursday’s “Influential Series” speech headlined by Elle Macpherson. But event organisers said they haven’t received confirmation of her attendance.

The former Vogue editor-in-chief ruffled feathers in 2019 when she slammed Margaret Court for her anti-LGBTQ stance. She called for the Margaret Court Arena to be renamed to ensure “intolerance has no place in tennis”. Five years on, the name remains the same.

Macpherson will have large shoes to fill in delivering the keynote speech, in a spot that’s previously been occupied by former prime minister Julia Gillard and another former sex discrimination commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick. Let’s hope Wintour makes a surprise appearance.

COURTING POLITICS

Sport and politics have been on a collision course this summer. The International Cricket Council was first off the blocks by banning Australian star Usman Khawaja from wearing shoes showing support for Palestinians in the Perth Test match.

The Australian Open, however, has taken a stand on another conflict – the Russia-Ukraine war – by banning Russian and Belarussian flags and preventing mentions of the countries.

So the stage was set on Monday when Belarussian player Victoria Azarenka came up against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska at Rod Laver Arena.

Azarenka has been one of few prominent athletes to criticise the Kremlin’s invasion, labelling it her “mission” to “unite our tennis community and stand with Ukraine”.

Despite this, it was clear the crowd was barracking for the Ukrainian. One hour and 13 minutes into the match, the crowd started cheering, “Let’s go Dyanya, let’s go!”

The encouragement did the trick, Yastremska won the match soon after.

Azarenka may have had at least one fan in the crowd. Her former boyfriend and LMFAO frontman Redfoo was spotted at the tennis over the weekend.

He and Azarenka were together for two years and split more than a decade ago, but the American singer known for the banger Sexy and I Know It has continued attending her matches.

Redfoo was photographed on the weekend posing with fans in his signature look, the large ’fro and over-sized sunglasses. We tried to find out whether he attended his ex’s match, but couldn’t get through.

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