[ad_1]
News of Zverev’s abuse allegations – and confirmation that he would stand trial in Germany in May – swept through Melbourne Park on Tuesday, with players grilled on the topic and in particular how it impacted Zverev’s role on the professional tour players’ council.
One by one the players from leading names Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud, to another member of the players’ council, Grigor Dimitrov, were probed on the topic.
All declined to comment in any detail, citing a lack of knowledge on the case.
But Sandgren objected to the line of questioning.
“Why are the press asking players about domestic violence? Like yes domestic violence is bad why the weird ‘got ya’ game?” he asked on Twitter.
“We are independent contractors bro go ask the ATP big wigs chill tf (the f**k) out.
“It’s not the players job to make sure another player is in good standing with the atp.
“The fact that he’s on tour playing makes it self-evident that he is. But of course they know that.”
Sandgren is no stranger to courting controversy.
In 2022, he pulled out of the Australian Open due to the COVID vaccine mandate – ending a decade-long run of competing at the tournament.
He was also a vocal critic of the tournament’s quarantine measures in 2021, when he flew into Australia while COVID-positive at the height of the pandemic’s grip on Australia.
The outspoken star has previously been linked to the controversial alt-right, and deleted tweets after denying far-right sympathies.
10AM: DAY FOUR START DELAYED BY RAIN
A day after the temperatures soared into the 30s, leading to players battling in the heat – and England’s Jack Draper vomiting in a bin after a gruelling five-set win – Melbourne’s weather is showing it’s full range today.
Because, of course, it’s raining.
That means there’ll be no play on the outside courts until midday at the earliest – and we could be facing a backlog of matches if there are any significant delays.
9.30AM: WHY POPYRIN CAN RATTLE DJOKER
It’s the toughest test in world tennis, but can Australian upstart Alexei Popyrin pull off the shock of the tournament tonight and dethrone the king of Melbourne Park?
Popyrin will be on centre court later tonight with world No.1 Novak Djokovic eyeing off more Australian Open glory.
It’s a seemingly impossible task, but retiring Australian star John Millman has said the young star has the weapons to unsettle Djokovic.
While Millman had an 0-3 record against the Serbian star, he said Popyrin was better equipped to pull off an upset.
“The thing that I didn’t have that Alexei has is a serve. He’s got an amazing serve,” Millman told Channel 9.
“He’s tidied up his action a little bit with (Belgian great) Xavier Malisse.
“He won’t be wasting any of those emotions pre-game, and he’s going to have to come out swinging, because that’s the only way to beat Novak. You have to hit him off the court.”
8.45AM: FEMALE STARS IN ACTION ON WEDNESDAY
Aryna Sabalenka faces her second consecutive qualifier today as she looks to get her title defence off to a flyer.
Sabalenka will be on centre court ahead of Novak Djokovic, facing Czech qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova.
The powerful Belarusian second seed dropped just one game in obliterating her first-round opponent, with Fruhvirtova set to face more of her wrath.
US Open champion Coco Gauff, who romped through her first match, will follow on from Sinner against fellow American Caroline Dolehide in her quest for a maiden title at Melbourne Park.
Other players in action include women’s sixth seed Ons Jabeur against exciting Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva and former champion Caroline Wozniacki.
8.15AM: AUSSIE STANDS IN NOVAK’S WAY
Novak Djokovic resumes his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title Wednesday against home hope Alexei Popyrin.
Serbian superstar Djokovic dropped a set against unheralded Croat Dino Prizmic in his opening clash and will not want to do repeat the feat against 43rd-ranked Popyrin.
But the 10-time Australian Open winner heads into the night match on Rod Laver Arena with lingering concerns over his health after admitting he was “a bit under the weather” against Prizmic.
“Look, it is what it is. You just have to try to deal with it and get over it and accept the circumstances and try to make the most of it,” he said.
Should he come through against the Australian, the world number one will face a third-round clash against veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils or Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who ended Andy Murray’s tournament.
Men’s fourth seed Jannik Sinner is also in action, against Dutchman Jesper de Jong on Margaret Court Arena as he looks to maintain his recent impressive form, which has included a win over Djokovic.
Men’s seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, last year’s losing finalist, meets Australian Jordan Thompson, but is not worried about a hostile crowd, with a big Greek contingent in Melbourne.
7.45AM: ALCARAZ HELPS BREAK STUNNING GRAND SLAM RECORD
The 2024 Australian Open has broken new grand slam ground with a record 30 seeded men’s players progressing to the second round.
When No.2 seed Carlos Alcaraz dismissed Richard Gasquet in straight sets late on Tuesday night he put the bow on an incredible three days that saw only No.18 Nicolas Jarry and No.31 Alexander Bublik fail to progress.
Never in the history of Grand Slam tennis have 30 seeded men’s players reached the second round.
The previous record was 29, which has happened five times: US Open (2001, 2015) and Australian Open (2005, 2009, 2014).
7.00AM: DEMON’S REVENGE MISSION AGAINST DAVID CUP CONQUEROR
He survived the early stumbling block of Milos Raonic and now Alex de Minaur has revenge in mind when he goes to war with tricky Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the second round on Wednesday.
De Minaur was forced to dig deep into his bag of tricks on Monday night to survive the super serve of Raonic, who eventually retired early in the third set with a hip injury.
His next test is world No. 41 Arnaldi, who has shown a knack for knocking Aussies out of big tournaments and is fast becoming public enemy number one Down Under.
Arnaldi, 22, outdueled Alexei Popyrin in last year’s Davis Cup Finals as Italy went on to lift the trophy with a 2-1 victory over Australia.
Though de Minaur was matched against world No. 4 Jannick Sinner that day, he still feels some responsibility to get one back on Arnaldi, whom he has never played before.
“It’s no secret Davis Cup is a huge priority for me and it’s been shattering the last couple of years to get so close to the holy grail and just barely miss out — so yeah, I do associate Matteo as the guy that beat us in the Davis Cup Final,” De Minaur said.
“So I’ll do my best to hopefully get some revenge. He’s a quality opponent but I’ll be ready for it.”
Arnaldi rose 91 spots in the ATP Rankings last year off the back of some impressive scalps, including a straight-sets win over world No. 11 Casper Ruud and three-set victories against No. 22 Cameron Norrie and No. 23 Jiri Lehecka.
The Italian also sent Aussie Jason Kubler out in the first round of the US Open and twice defeated Popyrin, including the Davis Cup Finals tie.
He opened his maiden Australian Open campaign with a straight-sets win over Queenslander Adam Walton on Sunday and now has the Aussie No. 1 in his sights.
But de Minaur is different gravy, especially this version.
After his incredible start to 2024, which began with three top 10 scalps in the United Cup – including Novak Djokovic – de Minaur will be heavily favoured going into this one.
Win and he will set up a third round meeting with another unseeded player.
Many are already eyeballing a mouth-watering fourth round clash with world No. 5 Andrey Rublev as the first real test of de Minaur’s credentials.
But the Aussie, who has never gone beyond the fourth round at the Australian Open, said his focus was firmly on Arnaldi.
“To be completely frank I have no idea about my draw,” De Minaur said.
“I don’t look at the draw, I don’t like it, I think it’s a way of getting ahead of yourself and there’s no moment like the present.
“For me the only thing I’m really focused about is my next opponent which is obviously Arnaldi.
“(He) is a quality Italian player with a lot of firepower and he’s started the year really well, so I’m going to be ready for that battle and whatever happens, happens after that.”
Originally published as Australian Open day 4 live scores: Alex de Minaur v Matteo Arnaldi, Alexander Zverev court case
[ad_2]
