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!”
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.
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”.
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.
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
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.
Timnaik O'Shaughnessy
Roar Rookie
I think everyone who has played sport has been there, once or twice (maybe more), and wanted to give the ref or the ump a good serve for being a so and so (aka incompetent). So, let's not all start clutching at pearls, about this so called meltdown. The difference between Medvedev and the average Joe is that it's his livelihood, he's got a Grand Slam riding on, in part, how well the umpire does his job, so I don't hold it against him. It wasn't a profanity laced rant, it was just a Russian guy having a go at the umpire in OK English. Sure, fine Medvedev and say whatever else that will appease those who felt it wasn't a good look (and it wasn't) but it should end there. On that note, the umpire in question should be asked to justify why he let Tsitsipas's father coach his son from the stands because that's not allowed. And Tsitsipas Senior should be watched closely from here on. There you go.
aussikiwi
Guest
Nah mate it exists in your febrile imagination.
Republican
Guest
......now thats rich coming from a Kiwi. Fight fire with fire I say. The NZ sanctimony remains palpable across this nation and I tire of letting it go unchallenged.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Spelling isnt everyones strong suit Zenn. Is that how you judge people? I think Richard Branson disagrees with your judgements.
JAMES G HASLAM
Guest
Medvedev has earned a severe penalty for his treatment of the umpire. The problem the ump faced is not knowing what Tsitsipas' father was saying. Was he coaching, or cheering? What is coaching? Tennis has to figure this out, without ending the match there and then.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Am I wrong? prove it. here is one from a couple of weeks ago. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-agency-created-in-aim-to-end-violence-against-women-and-children-20220113-p59o1z.html
aussikiwi
Guest
Give us your facts and research please Jacko. Any sources at all. Because your line is straight out of a liberal party press release. Where has the money been spent, over what period, and how much did labour spend over a comparable period?? Or is it like the billions supposedly spent from the bushfire relief fund?
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Warner would have sanded the 1 side of the ball b4 serving.....
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
And like Tangles he delivers off the wrong foot. But unlike Tangles he's not loved
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Very funny
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
My reply went to Wokesville, CA, 673456
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
"And women they are. I often meet women who are females. As is their right. I even shake their hands even if they don't feel entitled" Scott Morrison quoted at a Women's march (or not)
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I think he wanted to really let rip with cat = p**** = ****
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Perhaps you mean definitely…it seems like you were educated in a private school with regard to Jacko’s idiosyncratic spelling above
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
In my opinion what Tsitsipas camp was trying to do is not okay to do than it is to indulge in ball tampering. If a player is not allowed to be coached during a match and his camp sneakily trying to do it, and opponent is enraged to the point of throwing direct tantrums to umpire but in the end everyone gets away with it by paying petty fines, its a joke to a cricket fan.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Good riddance.
Davico
Roar Pro
That is getting very close to the "do your own research" defense!!
Davico
Roar Pro
Bye!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thats great Sheek. At our age we should be using knives and forks eh! Give it a couple more years before the hand feeding starts hopefully!!! :laughing: :laughing: Seems no one can tell me what was meant by that statement.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well. Let us leave the mods out of this and see what every one else thinks about what has transpired in the conversation.