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Fans in shock over 'disgusting' scenes in Australian Open semi-final

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Daniil Medvedev, pictured here in action against Stefanos Tsitsipas in their Australian Open semi-final.
Daniil Medvedev roars with delight after hitting a winner against Stefanos Tsitsipas in their Australian Open semi-final. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

The tennis world was left gobsmacked on Friday night when a heavily pro-Stefanos Tsitsipas crowd relentlessly booed Daniil Medvedev in their Australian Open semi-final.

Medvedev handed Tsitsipas another tennis lesson, dispatching the Greek in straight sets to line up a tasty Australian Open final showdown with Novak Djokovic.

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The Russian fourth seed continued his dominance over Tsitsipas, seemingly having the ball on a string for much of Friday night in a 6-4 6-2 7-5 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

It extends Medvedev's record against Tsitsipas to 6-1 and continues the 25-year-old Muscovite's phenomenal 20-match unbeaten run on tour.

But while he may have won the match, Medvedev certainly didn't win over the crowd.

A large contingent of Greek fans packed into Rod Laver Arena to cheer on Tsitsipas, but many neutral observers thought their actions crossed the line.

Fans could be heard booing Medvedev's winners and cheering his unforced errors and double faults, which some labelled "disgusting" and "shameful".

At one stage during the third set chair umpire James Keothavong even had to rebuke the crowd, asking them to be "fair" to both players and not yell out in the middle of rallies.

Keothavong said while it was "great" that the crowd was so engaged in the match, they needed to be quiet during points.

Greek fans, pictured here showing their support for Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Greek fans show their support for Stefanos Tsitsipas during his Australian Open semi-final. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Medvedev and Djokovic in Australian Open final

While world No.1 Djokovic will be a warm favourite to win his ninth Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, the Serb is unlikely to hold any great fears for Medvedev, who has won three of their last four encounters.

Medvedev said all the pressure was on Djokovic in the final.

"I think he's the favourite because he didn't lose. In eight occasions that he was here in the semis, he won the tournament," Medvedev said.

"Me ... I don't know how you call it in English, not an outsider, but I'm the challenger, the guy that challenges the guy who was eight times in the final and won eight times. And I'm happy about it.

"I think if we talk in general - I have nothing to lose."

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, pictured here after their clash in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas shake hands after their clash in the Australian Open semi-finals. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

Tsitsipas looked a shadow of the heroic figure who beat Rafael Nadal in a quarter-final - just the second time the Spanish great had been trumped in a grand slam after winning the first two sets.

"Everyone saw what just happened out there - I'm the last person you should be asking this," he said.

"I was just focused on my game, and he put out his show.

"He became Daniil Medvedev for three sets in a row."

It marks the second grand slam final for Medvedev who was trumped in five sets by Nadal in the 2019 US Open decider.

He has won the Paris Masters, ATP Finals and ATP Cup as part of his win streak and has beaten every man in the top 10 since November, save for the injured Roger Federer.

with AAP

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