Live: Defending champ up first at Australian Open as ‘brutal’ fans in spotlight again

Danielle Collins‘s interaction with the Australian fans last night was just the latest in a line of players and pundits not being thrilled with crowd behaviour at the so-called ‘Happy Slam’.

The fans have been vocal in their support of the Australian favourites (James Duckworth briefly excluded) and that has often manifested in cheering faults and errors by the opposition, which has got them off side.

Now, Australia isn’t an outlier on this front — French and US crowds have come in for similar criticism at slams over the years — but it has been notable at this year’s first major.

Former Australian Open doubles champion John Alexander said on today’s ABC Tennis Podcast the fans’ behaviour was inappropriate.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate at a grand slam event.

“A number of players are going to go away [unhappy] having been brutalised by our crowd.

“It is called the Happy Open, [but] I think there’s a lot to be learned. There’ll be some efforts made.

“Possibly they could have some people like they have at golf that can hold up ‘QUIET’ signs at times and if patrons don’t adhere to that request they can be asked to leave. Or put in a headlock and dragged out of the place.”

I’m pretty sure that last part was a joke.

The first singles match on court today pits 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova against Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who upset 2024 runner-up Qinwen Zheng in the second round.

Russian Pavlyuchenkova is 33 years and Siegemund 36, comfortably the oldest players left in the women’s draw.

It’s particularly hilarious seeing 2021 French Open finalist Pavlyuchenkova in the same quarter of the draw as 17-year-old compatriot Mirra Andreeva, considering Pavlyuchenkova made her grand slam debut at Wimbledon in 2007 just a couple of months after Andreeva was born!

(That didn’t stop them teaming up for doubles at last year’s US Open, where they reached the third round)

A lot of topics burned through on today’s ABC Tennis Podcast with Lauren Bordin, John Alexander and John Millman.

• What Tristan Schoolkate can take from his loss to Jannik Sinner
• Daniil Medvedev’s upset loss to Learner Tien, one of a host of promising juniors
• Alex de Minaur’s win over Tristan Boyer
• Danielle Collins and Australian crowds’ behaviour
• Thanasi Kokkinakis’s injuries
• No frills Aleksandar Vukic’s run to the third round

The Special K duo of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis retire in the second set against Vukic and Duckworth, while top Australian seed Alex de Minaur progresses to the third round of the men’s singles at Melbourne Park.

Catch up on the action from day five with yesterday’s blog.

We thought Iga Świątek might get the biggest boos on day five for her jab about Sydney coffee being better than Melbourne’s (BUT LANEWAYS! etc) but Danielle Collins turned the pantomime dial up to 11 in her win over Destanee Aiava.

As if beating an Australian qualifier wasn’t enough the ever-polarising Collins hammed it up to the partisan crowd, telling them to shut up, blowing them mock kisses, cupping her ear and saying “How about that?” before shaking Aiava’s hand.

The 2022 runner-up then gestured the crowd could kiss her butt and bragged about how much money the “haters” have given her.

Hello and welcome to ABC Sport’s latest Australian Open live blog, with third-round singles matches kicking off today.

The round of 32 is a real turning point in the majors, as early upsets reveal themselves to be flashes in the pan or proper runs. It’s also when the dominant seeds can establish their form and launch into the second week of the tournament.

We’ve got a host of former champions in action today — including Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka — while Aleksandar Vukic flies the Aussie flag in the singles and a host of locals hit the doubles court.

Let’s get into it!