Djokovic row as ‘dizzy’ Sinner reaches Australian Open quarters

#Djokovic #row #dizzy #Sinner #reaches #Australian #Open #quarters

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic was at the center of another row at the Australian Open on Monday as the Jannik junior needed medical attention in the sweltering heat to fight through to the quarter-finals and Iga Svitek won comfortably.

But the fairytale came to an end after American teenage qualifier Lerner Tyne suffered a thigh strain in his four-set loss to Italy’s Lorenzo Zonego in Melbourne. Five-time major champion Svitek torpedoed another feel-good story when she beat “lucky loser” Eva Lyce 6-0, 6-1 to set up a meeting with eighth seed Emma Navarro.

Poland’s Swietek, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, then learned that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would not appeal the case. He called it “closure.” The 23-year-old denied deliberate doping, saying the over-the-counter drugs were contaminated.

With temperatures soaring above 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) for the second day in a row, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina defeated Veronika Kadermitova — then refused to shake the Russian’s hand.

But Svitolina’s husband, 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, retired from their match in the last 16. 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic was not in action — he will play Carlos Alcaraz in a quarterfinal blockbuster on Tuesday. But that was the story.

On Sunday he refused to do a routine interview in court, his hasty exit from the Rod Laver Arena crowd after he said it was hosted by Tony Jones, a top sports presenter with broadcaster Channel Nine. was in protest against, whom he accused of making “insulting and offensive comments” towards him and the Serbian fans.

Jones on Friday labeled Djokovic a “has-been” among other things, saying: “Get him out.” Djokovic said he would boycott interviews with TV stations until he apologized.

He later released a short video on X to explain his position and it has been viewed more than 60 million times, and it caught the attention of the site’s owner, Elon Musk. Musk responded to Djokovic by posting: “It’s better to speak directly to the public than to go through the negative filter of legacy media.”

Past and present tennis stars and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albany all joined the ranks. Jones apologized on air on Monday and hours later organizers Tennis Australia said: “Novak acknowledges that the apology has been publicly requested, and he is now moving on and focusing on his next match. Focusing.”

Djokovic has also been at the center of controversy before the Australian Open, most notably in 2022 when he was kicked out of the tournament for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid. He claimed before this year’s tournament that he had been “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while staying at a hotel before being deported.

Back on the tennis court, the world number one and defending champion Sunner needed medical attention and overcame a lengthy setback, breaking the net with a thunderous serve to reach the last eight. He came home 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against Danish 13th seed Holger Rooney on Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner struggled in the hot conditions, his hand was visibly shaking and his heart rate was taken in the third set before he left the court for a medical timeout. Afterward, Snr said he felt dizzy.

He next faces home hope Alex De Manor, the eighth seed who defeated unseeded Alex Michelson of the United States in straight sets. 28th-seeded Svitolina beat unseeded Russian Kadermatova 6-4, 6-1.

Svitolina then refused to shake her opponent’s hand, as is the case with all Ukrainian players facing the Russians because of the war. “For me to find a way to win a match, to find a way to bring a little light, a little win for the people of Ukraine is something I feel responsible for,” said the 30-year-old from Odesa. Yes,” said the 30-year-old from Odessa.