‘Not a question you should be asking’ - huge French Open upset before press conference gets ugly

When an athlete does something exceptional, a spotlight is put on their life and, on occasion, it brings up some awkward questions.

I watched True Spirit this week. The movie about Jessica Watson. Great flick. Even if the media was portrayed as cretinous for questioning if a 16-year-old girl should have been allowed to sail solo around the world.

We know the ending. A triumphant one. A soul-stirring success. She’s a ripper. All that guts, glory and a little bit of optimism to prove the doubters wrong. And yet the media had every right to highlight the dangers of her trip. It could have killed her. Very nearly did. At the very least, somebody had to ask the question.

Press conferences are curious things. A person of note is plonked in front of a room of strangers, mostly, and instructed to answer anything they’re asked. In sport, these Q and As can be tedious, funny, in-depth, a waste of time, easy, emotional, awkward or angry. The latter happened at the French Open on Tuesday, when world No.2 Daniil Medvedev was knocked out by Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild.

The world No.172 was charged last year for domestic violence. His then partner, Thayane Lima, has publicly detailed her allegations of psychological and physical abuse, all of which he denies. He’s been ordered to stay away from her and pay palimony.

Brazil's Seyboth Wild plays a forehand return during his defeat of Russia’s Daniil Medvedev at the French Open. Wild was later question about alleged domestic violence in his past. Picture: AFP

Long story short, his five-set win over Medvedev on the most famous court in Paris was the upset of the year in tennis. He was kidding himself if he thought someone wasn’t going to ask the question afterwards. His agent, rather than having a sook, should have prepped him. The world’s sporting media is at every tennis major. Seyboth Wild was clearly the yarn of the day. His agent should’ve said, look, when you get asked about the police charges, what do you want to say? No comment? It’s in the past? Let me clarify a few things? None of your business? All relevant, so long as it’s understood it must be brought up. It shouldn’t have been difficult to navigate because it was so obviously going to be raised. Instead, Seyboth Wild and his minder acted stunned and offended.

“I don’t think it’s a subject we should talk about it right here,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a question you should be making to anybody. I don’t think it comes to you to decide whether it’s a place to be spoken of or not.”

Then his agent got all uppity. Approached the journalist and wanted to take a photo of his accreditation pass. What was he going to do? Ask the International Tennis Federation to toss the reporter out? The journo should have been applauded for having the balls to ask the question. Seyboth Wild’s case was huge news in Brazil. The 23-year-old is a former US Open junior champion regarded as a possible future world No.1. Local news was going to become global news at some stage. This stage, this day. If the agent didn’t know how to handle it, Seyboth Wild needs a new agent.

It brought to mind Cam Smith’s curly press conference after he won the British Open. Every man, dog, woman and journalist at St Andrew’s knew he was about to jump ship to LIV Golf. Again, the question had to be asked. Athletes should get on the front foot. Start a press conference by say, “I know this is going to come up, so let me say this …” and then everyone can talk sport again.

An English news hound in Scotland said very reasonably, “Cam, apologies for having to bring this up in these circumstances, but your name continues to be mentioned, has been mentioned to me this week about LIV Golf. What’s your position? Are you interested? Is there any truth to suggestions that you might be signing?”

Smith replied, “I just won the British Open, and you’re asking about that. I think that’s pretty not that good.”

From the news hound: “I appreciate that, but the question is still there. Are you interested at all? Is there any truth in that?”

Smith: “I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I’m here to win golf tournaments.”

Seyboth Wild is one of two French Open players to have domestic violence accusations made against them. The other is Germany’s Alex Zverev. In February, Australian Nick Kyrgios’ assault charge from an ex-girlfriend was dismissed by a Canberra magistrate.

Medvedev wasn‘t too upset by his early departure. Roland Garros’ red dirt isn’t really his thing. “Every time it finishes I’m happy,” he said. “I had a mouthful of clay since probably third game of the match, and I don’t like it. I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their bags, in their shoes, the socks, white socks, you can throw them to garbage after clay season. Maybe some people like it. I don’t. I am happy to have it finished.”