Tennis golden boy roasted over awkward interview gaffe

After dispatching Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets, the world No.2 was discussing his love of watching tennis – and made note of current rivals Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev.

But when pressed by Jim Courier on which of the tour’s female stars he watches, Alcaraz was immediately stumped.

“I’m going to put you on the spot though, what about WTA?” Courier asked.

Alcaraz was less forthcoming.

“I watch WTA as well. I mean, when I can obviously,” Alcaraz said.

“When I turn the TV on if it’s WTA, ATP, whatever. I like to watch it obviously.”

Social media was not kind to the young star, with fans mocking the 20-year-old’s inability to name one female star.

Later, in his official press conference, Alcaraz said his favourite women’s player was Emma Raducanu – and said he’d fumbled in his on-court interview because he is ‘shy with girls’.

“I was too shy to say it but my favourite player is Raducanu,” he said.

“I watched her first round match, it’s so good to see her back. I was afraid of the reaction from the public. I am shy with girls.”

10.30AM: ‘WORST ROOMMATE EVER’: FRITZ SPILLS THE BEANS

Ahead of his massive quarter-final showdown with Novak Djokovic, American star Taylor Fritz has spilled the beans on the important questions at this Australian Open.

Namely, who is the roommate of your nightmares?

Fritz – speaking with Collingwood’s US-born star Mason Cox – had kind words for powerhouse Tommy Paul, who he described as a ‘clean freak’ as well as being one of his close friends.

But fellow American Francis Tiafoe was shown no mercy.

“He is hilarious, always a good time,” Fritz said of Tiafoe.

“But I’ve roomed with him many times before…. One of the worst roommates ever. He is not the roommate you want.”

10.00AM: LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL AFTER DEMON HEARTBREAK

– Rebecca Williams

Former Australian players John Millman and Alicia Molik remain confident Alex de Minaur has the game to be a grand slam challenger as they predicted he could produce his best on grass at Wimbledon following his heart-breaking exit at Melbourne Park.

After de Minaur’s fourth-round exit against No.5 seed Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open on Sunday, the Australian star still has just the one quarter-final appearance to his name at grand slams.

De Minaur reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2020, but has since suffered five fourth-round exits, including three at his home grand slam at Melbourne Park.

Questions remain over whether the 24-year-old has the weapons in his game – particularly with his serve – to match the players at the pointy end of the world top 10 and put himself in contention to win a major.

But former Billie Jean King Cup captain Molik, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open in 2005, was adamant world No. 10 de Minaur was capable of winning a grand slam.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

9.30AM: ZVEREV FUMES AFTER RUN-IN WITH SECURITY

Men’s sixth seed Alexander Zverev had some choice words about the Australian Open security – and not just because of a pro-Palestine protestor who dumped pamphlets all over Margaret Court Arena during his fourth-round win over Cameron Norrie.

Zverev was especially annoyed by the strictness of security in the players’ area, after being denied access to the player gym after his gruelling four-hour victory.

One of the most recognisable players on the planet, Zverev was knocked back because he had forgotten his player accreditation.

“I went to the locker room, and the gym area is right next to the locker room – they wouldn’t let me into the gym because I forgot my credential in the locker room,” Zverev said.

“What are you doing? You’re protecting players from players. That’s not really the whole point.

“It should be where it’s already the quarterfinals and you know the players.

“Especially there’s obviously screens and TVs everywhere in front of all the security guys, if you’ve seen somebody play for four and a half hours, it’s okay to go stretching in the gym, even if you forgot your credential.

“That’s not sounding arrogant. I understand they’re all doing their job.

“But I think when something like this happens, it shouldn’t be another fan dragging the other person out.

“It should be the security guys that should be there quite quickly. It shouldn’t take them three, four minutes, that long.”

9.00AM: SABALENKA EAGER TO EMERGE FROM CARNAGE

In the women’s draw, while many seeds have fallen by the wayside, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka’s title charge remains firmly on track.

The Belarusian world number two tackles ever-consistent Czech star Barbora Krejcikova.

Sabalenka was ruthless in her fourth-round match and has conceded just 11 games so far to position herself as the red-hot title favourite.

But she too is expecting a more thorough examination from ninth seed Krejcikova.

“Barbora, we played a lot of matches. She plays really well. I think she’s coming back after injuries, so also super-motivated. Always a tough battle,” she said.

Awaiting the winner will be either US Open champion and fourth seed Coco Gauff or unseeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.

Like Sabalenka, Gauff is another in player in form and said she had learned from her experience of winning at Flushing Meadows last year.

“Super-happy to be in this position and be here. Hopefully I can keep going for more,” she said. – AFP

8.30AM: DJOKOVIC SET TO SWEAT IN TRICKY QUARTER-FINAL

Novak Djokovic will take the next step in his bid to win an extraordinary 11th Australian Open title today, with a tricky quarter-final to negotiate in Melbourne.

Serbian top seed Djokovic faces American 12th seed Taylor Fritz in one of the day matches on Rod Laver Arena – and it will be on one of the hottest days of the tournament, with temperatures set to rise to 30 degrees.

Djokovic, gunning for an 11th title and record 25th grand slam crown, ran rings around fourth-round opponent Adrian Mannarino, losing just three games.

But he is expecting a harder test from Fritz, who beat last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas to set up their afternoon showdown at Rod Laver Arena.

“I’m really excited to enter the second week. I look forward to the battles because obviously the opponents are higher-ranked,” said the 36-year-old.

“I play Fritz. There’s no easy matches, no doubt about that.

“But the experience of knowing what I need to do with my own body, with my training, with the maintaining of the kind of level, I guess tennis-related specifics that I need to work on, and also recovery has been on point.”

The winner will meet either in-form Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner or Russia’s fifth seed Andrey Rublev, who face off in the evening.

Both are targeting their first taste of a Melbourne Park semi-final. – AFP

Originally published as Australian Open day 10: Live scores, all the latest news from Melbourne Park