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World number two Daniil Medvedev’s famous temper boiled over once again during a spiteful semi-final win over rival and fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Russian accused Tsitsipas of receiving coaching from his father, Apostolos, in his players’ box, engaging in a furious rant with chair umpire Jaume Campistol.
Being handed a code violation for an audible obscenity after a double-fault, that handed Tsitsipas a crucial break late in the second set, was Medvedev’s cue to blow up.
“Bro, are you mad? Bro, are you mad? For what? His father can coach every point? Are you stupid?” Medvedev complained.
“His father can talk every point! His father can talk every point! His father can talk every point! His father can talk every point!
“Will you answer my question? Can you answer my question? Can you answer my question, please? Can his father talk every point?
“Oh my God, you are so bad, man. How can you be so bad in a semi-final of a grand slam?
“Look at me! I’m talking to you!”
MEDVEDEV BLOWS UP! ????????
The Russian has sensationally accused Tsitsipas of being coached and has GIVEN IT to the umpire over it too! ????????#AusOpen – live on Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport. pic.twitter.com/8Xa3qOjvnf
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 28, 2022
After Tsitsipas closed out the second set on his next service game, Medvedev continued to berate the chair umpire.
“Next time it should be a code violation,” he said.
“If you don’t do it, you are – how can I say it – a small cat.”
While Medvedev escaped any on-court action, tennis fans were quick to condemn the tournament favourite’s ‘completely unacceptable’ meltdown.
I quite like Medvedev but this is shameful behaviour. Completely unacceptable #AusOpen https://t.co/ZjuC4z7ltK
— Andrew Gamble (@andrew_gamble) January 28, 2022
Regardless of whether Tsitsipas was being coached – & there was a warning issued – Medvedev’s verbal attack on the chair ump was awful & warranted a point deduction, minimum. 30-plus years after McEnroe’s worst & tennis remains far too accomodating of umpire abuse. #AusOpen
— Jake Niall (@JakeNiallTHEAGE) January 28, 2022
Why do they allow umpires to be constantly spoken to in that way in tennis? Pretty ugly. #AusOpen
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) January 28, 2022
That should have been a clear point penalty for Medvedev for audible obscenity. Players cannot be allowed to have these kind of rants with chair umpires.
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 28, 2022
Medvedev went nuts????????♀️
He has the right to be furious at Tsitsipas father coaching his son from the stands but not in that way. That’s not how he should talk to the umpire.
“Are you stupid? Look at me I’m talking to you.” #AusOpen— Rayane Moussallem (@RioMoussallem) January 28, 2022
Well #Medvedev is carrying on like a pork chop. When he shouted "look at me im talking to you" the umpire should have replied "no, because you're telling at me and abusing me " @wwos #AusOpen
— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) January 28, 2022
A) Medvedev outburst over the top and inappropriate.
B) Apostolos needs to stop coaching which is flat out cheating.
C) umpire should fix it.— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) January 28, 2022
Even another notorious sporting hothead in Australian cricketer David Warner wasn’t a fan, Tweeting: “I can only imagine what would happen if this was me”.
I can only imagine what would happen if this was me ???????????? https://t.co/REiJfsRWvM
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) January 28, 2022
Bizarrely, though, it seemed the chair umpire – and Australian Open officials – were paying attention to Medvedev’s outburst.
Nearly an hour later, with the scored tied at 1-1 in the fourth set after the Russian had claimed the third 6-4 – Tsitsipas would be handed a code violation for receiving coaching at last.
Well well well! ???? An hour after Medvedev's outburst, Tsitsipas cops a warning for coaching after all! ????#AusOpen – live on Channel 9 and 9Now. Ad-Free Live & On Demand on Stan Sport pic.twitter.com/0yeIidnBAy
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 28, 2022
Bizarrely, Tsitsipas seemed to see the humour in the situation.
“He just discovered the sting operation, and he’s smiling about it!” Jim Courier laughed on Channel Nine’s coverage.
“He’s entertained by it, look at him!”
Co-commentator Todd Woodbridge questioned Tsitsipas senior’s actions, wondering what purpose they served.
“Seriously, what’s Dad going to tell him, after he’s just held serve to love and he’s in a position to return?” he bemoaned.
How the Greek father-son pair had been booked soon became clear, with Nine’s cameras picking up official Eva Asderaki-Moore – strategically positioned in the tunnel below Tsitsipas’ players’ box – signalling to
Eva Asderaki-Moore signaling undercover from the tunnel. This tournament really is peaking.#AusOpen https://t.co/qxbVtjxO1i
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 28, 2022
Remarkably, Tsitsipas would fail to so much as win another game, Medvedev running away with the set – and the match – 6-1, to book a date in the final with champion Rafael Nadal.
To finish the saga off, Medvedev would apologise to Campistol after securing victory.
Medvedev said sorry to the umpire ???? pic.twitter.com/UsNmHtbInw
— LorenaPopa ????️♀️???? (@popalorena) January 28, 2022
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