A falling feather leads to a fuming German, a teenager makes an instant impact, and it is double delight for Aussie doubles.
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- Today’s live blog: Join the ABC Sport team from 11.30am (AEDT) for all the action
Here are the five quick hits from day 10 of the Australian Open, and when Alex de Minaur will play this evening.
1. Zverev fumes at feather stoppage
Seagulls have officially left their mark on Rod Laver Arena.
In the latest of a long line of bizarre moments at the Australian Open, Alexander Zverev erupted at the umpire over a feather during his quarterfinal clash against Tommy Paul.
The world number two was already cranky earlier in that game, when a spectator yelled “out” during a point.
And a feather was the final straw after it dropped onto the court mid-point.
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Umpire Nacho Forcadell called a let and ordered a replay of the point when he saw a white feather drop into Zverev’s eye line as the German player was in his back swing.
He believed the feather would be distracting for opponent Paul — this drew boos from the crowd.
“This is unbelievable,” the German said to Forcadell.
“It’s a feather, there’s millions of them on the court.”
The point was eventually replayed, despite Zverev’s complaint.
There was also another moment in the match where he was forced to delay his serve as a feather slowly fell from the roof.
Funnily enough, this isn’t the first time a feather has angered Zverev.
A bit of deja vu happening for Zverev. (Reuters: Issei Kato)
At the 2020 Australian Open, also during the quarterfinals, he picked up a feather from the court during his match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka.
Weird deja vu.
2. Lack of technology in the spotlight
Technology is everywhere in tennis these days.
Gone are the line judges, review systems are in effect and the screens around the playing arena are enough to draw your attention away from the action.
What is not in place at the Australian Open are Let Machines.
The lack of technology was a sore point for American Tommy Paul who believed the chair umpire missed a let call on his serve in the opening set tiebreaker of his quarterfinal with Alexander Zverev.
Paul was certain the ball hit the net from his serve and was expecting the chair umpire to make the call as Zverev smashed a winner.
The call never came and Paul was furious.
“If you don’t hear that one or see that one you are not going to see any,” Paul said to umpire Nacho Forcadell.
Paul would go on to lose the set and the match in four sets as Zverev advanced to the semifinals.
Machines monitoring let serves are used in tournaments on the professional tours but is not used for this grand slam.
It is a decision that Zverev, the beneficiary of the non-call, said is baffling.
“To be honest, the point that Tommy complained about, it was an incredibly clear ‘let’,” Zverev said after his win.
“I didn’t know what to do in that situation… because if there’s no call and I stop playing then it’s a loss of point for me. In that situation, there’s nothing much you can do but continue playing.
“I think it’s, to be honest, quite ridiculous. Every single corner of everything has a camera.
“We have a video review and all the high-end technologies that we can possibly have but a simple ‘let’ machine that we’ve been using for the past 25 years is not available at a grand slam.
“I don’t blame the umpire too much for [Paul’s ‘let’] because it is tough to hear, especially if you are sitting higher up.”
3. Teen Jin Woodman shines on grand slam debut
Jin Woodman made the perfect start to his grand slam career at the tender age of 15.
The teenager who entered the men’s quad wheelchair draw as a wildcard, upset Australia’s top-ranked Heath Davidson 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-3 in their first round clash.
The healthy crowd on Court 6 gave Woodman a rousing reception as the enormity of the moment sunk in.
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The smile from ear to ear was terrific, and the hug when he came off court was no doubt a special moment for the young man.
Woodman’s reward is a match in the quarterfinals against Turkish fourth seed Ahmet Kaplan.
4. Doubles delight for Aussie wildcards
There are two all-Australian teams in the semifinals of the mixed doubles after a day of quarterfinal drama.
The duos of Kim Birrell and John-Patrick Smith, and, Olivia Gadecki and John Peers are into the final four at Melbourne Park.
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Both teams were given wildcard entries and both needed 10-point tiebreakers to advance to the semifinals.
The team of Birrell/Smith will face the British duo of Olivia Nicholls and Henry Patten.
Meanwhile, Gadecki/Peers battle the all-New Zealand second seeds of Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus.
There is hope for an all-Australian mixed doubles final this weekend — but it is too soon to go the early crow.
5. When is Alex de Minaur playing on day 11
The remaining quarterfinals in the men’s and women’s draw will be played on day 11, with Alex de Minaur getting the headline act on Rod Laver Arena.
All times in AEDT
Singles quarterfinals on Rod Laver Arena
- Madison Keys (19) vs Elina Svitolina (28) from 11:30am on Rod Laver Arena
- Emma Navarro (8) vs Iga Swiatek (2) not before 1pm on Rod Laver Arena
- Ben Shelton (21) vs Lorenzo Sonego not before 2:30pm on Rod Laver Arena
- Jannik Sinner (1) vs Alex de Minaur (8) not before 7:30pm on Rod Laver Arena
Aussies in action
Mixed doubles semifinals
- Olivia Gadecki/John Peers (WC) vs Erin Routliffe/Michael Venus (2) second last on Margaret Court Arena
- Olivia Nicholls/Henry Patten vs Kim Birrell/John-Patrick Smith (WC) last on Margaret Court Arena
Quad wheelchair singles
- Ahmet Kaplan (4) vs Jin Woodman (WC) from 11am on Kia Arena
Quad wheelchair doubles
- Diego Perez/David Wagner vs Heath Davidson/Robert Shaw third on Kia Arena
- Leandro Pena/Ymanitu Silva vs Finn Broadbent/Jin Woodman fourth on Court 6
Men’s wheelchair doubles
- Zhenxu Ji/Anderson Parker vs Tom Egberink/Tokito Oda (2) last on Court 6
Emerson Jones, Tahlia Kokkinis and Benjamin Wenzel also continue their singles campaigns in the junior categories.
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