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$53.6k in fines: Kyrgios makes the list for f-bomb tirade
By SEN
4:14pm Fines revealed for first three rounds
It pales in significance to years gone by, so are players getting away with more or are they behaving better?
The first three rounds at this year’s Aus Open has collected just $53,600 (AUD) in fines which is impressive given last year one man alone copped a sanction of over $120k.
Danil Medvedev - if you remember - butchered a net camera in his defeat to Learner Tien, he copped a massive fine for unsportsmanlike behaviour and another for taunting a line judge.
This year has been far tamer so far with Luciano Darderi topping the list with a meagre $8,500 in fines for racquet abuse during his first round clash with Cristian Garin.
Nick Kyrgios obviously made the list but just $2,800 out of pocket for his f-bomb laden rant on court during his men's doubles match with Thanasi Kokkinakis when he teed off on the chair umpire before swearing at a heckler in the crowd.
Interesting he wasn't sanctioned for the racquet smash mid-match.
What will be interesting to see is whether Coco Gauff is fined for her off court outburst after losing to Elina Svitolina on Tuesday night.
Despite her racquet smash happening off court, grand slam rules still stipulate: "Players shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a racquet or other equipment within the precincts of the tournament site."
The maximum fines for racquet abuse is $50k.
Novak Djokovic escaped a fine following his near ejection from the tournament when he came whiskers away from smacking a ball kid.
because the chair umpire did not issue an official warning, the Serbian star escaped any financial sanction.
The 2024 Australian Open collected $76,000 in fines.
Violation code:
- O: Racquet abuse
- K: Audible obscenity
- L: coaching violation
6:00pm Musetti RETIRES
Wow!
After being two sets up, Lorenzo Musetti has retired from his quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic.
The Italian had a medical time out during the third set with an injury, and with Djokovic up a break, he has called a retirement.
The 10-time AO Champion was dealing with his own injuries, having had some attention to his foot after losing the second set.
It sees the Serbian now through to his 13th semi-final at the Australian Open.
5:38pm Musetti nearing victory
Lorenzo Musetti is getting closer to making his first ever Australian Open semi final.
Having traditionally underperformed at Melbourne Park prior to this year, the Italian is now just a set away from beating Novak Djokovic after winning the second 6-3.
It wouldn't be the first time that an Italian has knocked him out at the AO.
Back in 2024, Jannik Sinner defeated the Serbian in the semi-final.
4:35pm Djokovic down
Novak Djokovic has not lost a quarter-final at the Australian Open since 2014.
But with the way Lorenzo Musetti is playing at the moment, he just might.
The Italian has taken the first set 6-4 out on Rod Laver Arena with the 10-time Australian Open champion hitting 18 unforced errors.
While the No. 5 seed is playing some of his best tennis at the moment having hit 12 winners for the set.
3pm "Like animals in the zoo"
Iga Swiatek was asked about the player privacy debate captivating the Aus Open after Coco Gauff's post defeat meltdown was aired to the world.
After losing in straight sets in just 59 minutes against Elina Svitolina, the American left the court in a composed manner before unleashing her anger on her racquet.
She later explained she had not wanted young fans to see her do it on court and felt like her privacy had been breached when the footage was aired.
Moreover, clips of Swiatek went viral across social media when she was filmed between the player entrance and gym forgetting her accreditation and being held up by security.
Cameras are everywhere at the Australian Open with the exception of the player locker room.
Echoing the sentiments of Gauff, Swiatek said: "Yeah, the question is, are we tennis players, or are we, like, animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?
"Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy.
"It would be nice also to, I don't know, have your own process and not always be, like, observed."
3:19pm Pegula wins all-American duel
She had to work for it in the second, but Jessica Pegula is through.
The No. 6 seed has made it back-to-back Grand Slam semi-finals after having made the final four at Flushing Meadows (US Open) last year with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) win over Amanda Anisimova.
Her start, which included only losing two points off her first serve in the first set, was just too much for the No. 4 seed to overcome despite her efforts later in the match.
She'll face Elena Rybakina on Thursday.
2:08pm Sinner camp accused of lying
World No 2 Jannik Sinner and his coach Darren Cahill have been accused of lying about requesting a night session for his quarter-final Luciano Darderi.
Having struggled in the blistering heat on Saturday when temperatures went over 40 degrees in Melbourne, Sinner was saved by the heat “bell” with his fourth-round clash stopped for the roof on Rod Laver Arena to be closed.
Moments before the heat policy came into play, Sinner was visibly cramping all over and unable to play anywhere near his best.
This is why Jamie Murray insists the Sinner camp would have pushed for a later start on Monday.
Once the roof closed and temperatures were controlled, Sinner cruised through the match to set up a last eight showdown with Darderi which was slated for 6pm on Margaret Court Arena on Monday.
“We did not request a night session,” Cahill told ESPN.
“We could have been moved to the night session when Jakub Mensik pulled out (before his match with Novak Djokovic).
“It was offered to Jannik to move to that second at night, but he was quite happy with the schedule when it came out that it was not before 6pm on MCA, so we just stuck to the schedule.”
For Murray – he isn’t buying it.
“I don’t believe it,’ Murray told TNT Sports.
“There’s no way he (Sinner) went through what he went through in his last match and then they didn’t want him to play as late as possible.
“I don’t believe it personally, but I could be wrong. I’m not saying he’s wrong.
“He’s absolutely in his rights to ask to play late in the day, but I don’t believe he went through what he went through and did nothing about it.”
1:22pm World NO 2 is OUT!
And Iga Swiatek will take some time to recover form this one, that was BRUTAL.
She went down to Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-1 and that's the world No 5's 8th straight win against a top 10 player.
12pm Inside story on rumours Aus Open CEO is set to quit
Rumours that Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley has accepted an offer to defect to the US Open have been rife for weeks, but Sam Groth is not convinced it’s a done deal.
Tiley, who has been at the helm of the Australian Open since 2013 but a part of the governing body for 21 years, has played a pivotal role in both revolutionising the sport and expanding the event to the behemoth that is now is.
Understandably, Tiley is a wanted man.
Amid the speculation he will step down after the Open, Groth is of the belief the rumours might not be true.
“It’s up in the air but there are people here from the USA association,” he told SEN. “All these guys being down here, there is a conversation being had.
“My inside word is yes things are happening but I’m not sure if Craig is done yet. Is this the finale to go out on the big one? 
“There are still plans from Craig about how this event can grow. This is a company that has gone from high performance producing tennis players to a global events company. Craig still has things he wants to do.
“But if the right offer comes along…(who knows). I do still think it’s up in the air at this stage.”
11:45am Star slams lack of privacy after epic meltdown
Coco Gauff has taken aim at the Australian Open’s apparent lack of player privacy after vision of her smashing a racquet in frustration was broadcast to the world.
Gauff, who was demolished in straight sets by Elina Svitolina in their quarter final clash, was courteous as she left the court, preferring to instead vent her frustrations in private.
But at the slam, there are cameras everywhere with the exception of the player locker room.
The young American said she was not comfortable with the fact the vision had been shared because she had chosen to take her frustrations out in private in order for her young fans not to see.
“Yeah, definitely. I think for me, I know myself. I don’t want to lash out on my team,” Gauff said.
“They’re good people. They don’t deserve that. I know I’m emotional. I just took the minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
“I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that. But I do know I need to let out that emotion … otherwise I’m just gonna be snappy with the people around me.
“I don’t want to do that. Like I said they don’t deserve it. They did their best. I did mine. Just need to let the frustration out.
“I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking racquets. Round of 16 of French Open, I think, I said I would never do it again on court because I don’t feel like that’s a good representation.
“I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments -- the same thing happened to Aryna after I played her in final of US Open. I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did.
“Maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room.”
