By ED CARRUTHERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and MATT LAMBERT AT MELBOURNE PARK
Published: 01:29 EST, 19 January 2025 | Updated: 02:42 EST, 19 January 2025
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, and game-by-game updates as Jack Draper takes on Carlos Alcaraz, while Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev look to secure a spot in the fourth round.
Ugly moment the Australian Open descends into chaos
By Ed Carruthers
Ugly scenes erupted at the Australian Open on Sunday afternoon as a brawl erupted near to the Grand Slam Oval between multiple fans.
The Herald Sun reports that a group of men were waiting in line at the Peroni stall when an argument broke out.
One man appeared to grab a chair and throw the seat towards a group of fans who were stood outside the bar area.
A woman was seen attempting to break up the altercation as patrons pushed and shoved each other.
Security officers were seen arriving at the scene and attempted to break up the brawl.
It is not clear how the altercation broke out.
Crowd trouble has been a problem at this year’s Australian Open with some players, including British star Harriet Dart, hitting out at fans earlier in the week.
Dart said that it ‘felt like being at a football match’ as boisterous fans watched on as she suffered defeat against Donna Vekic on Court 14.
While it has been largely a relaxed environment at Melbourne Park this week, with most fans respecting the players, some have caught the ire of commentators, including Australian tennis great Pat Rafter.
He labelled the rowdy crowd behaviour ‘disrespectful’.
‘It’s been like that for a couple of years,’ he said.
‘Sometimes I think it is disrespectful, sometimes I think it’s just part of the game, the transition of this generation – that’s what they want and this is the Australian Open.’
Fans in fact booed Jack Draper earlier in the week as he walked out to claim a huge comeback victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Brit said he had relished the intimidating environment, despite also stating that he had copped a few sledges on the court.
American star Danielle Collins was also booed off after she defeated Aussie Destanee Aiava earlier this week.
During her press conference, she added: ‘I think there were a lot of people that were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves and were really excited.’
Kyrgios blasts TV presenter
By Ed Carruthers
Jack Draper manages to hold again! It’s the eighth break point he’s saved this match and he’s managed to fend off the advances of his opponent twice in this game to pull a game back.
Having watched Draper this week, one thing for certain is that you do not rule this man out, with Draper having produced an epic comeback win against Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, Kokkinakis’ doubles partner Nick Kyrgios has brutally slammed a television presenter today.
The Aussie firebrand took aim at Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones after the TV star taunted Novak Djokovic at Melbourne park.
Jones branded Djokovic a ‘has been’ during a segment ahead of the Serbian’s third-round clash against Tomas Machac earlier in the week.
Speaking in front of a crowd of fans who were chanting for Djokovic, Jones turned and delivered his own song to the fans.
Bizarrely he shouted: ‘Novak is overrated … Novak’s a has-been … Novak kick him out.’
He added to the TV cameras: ‘I’m glad that they can’t hear me…’
The video has gone viral online, with Kyrgios subsequently publishing a clip of the controversial moment to his Instagram account.
The Australian, who bowed out of the men’s singles in the opening round this week, captioned the Instagram story: ‘Coming from this clown – couldn’t run around a park this bloke.’
Jones has copped flack from several others for his bizarre spray, with Paul McNamee hitting back at the remark.
The Aussie tennis great added: ‘Tony I’m surprised, especially as you work for the host broadcaster, that you would send up a bunch of Aussies [with European heritage] having a good time celebrating their 10-time AO champion … trying to be funny mate.’
Even Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan blasted the comment.
‘How can this be on TV. Disrespecting the GOAT, embarrassing,’ he wrote.
Breaking:Jack Draper withdraws from his match against Carlos Alcaraz
By Ed Carruthers
Tough break for Jack Draper as he has withdrawn from his fourth-round clash against Carlos Alcaraz with what seems like an injury.
It’s been a brutal week for Draper who has had to play out three five-set matches to reach the fourth round here at Melbourne Park.
Draper went two sets down in the match and had been hanging on against ferocious 21-year-old Alcaraz, who is bidding to win his first Australian Open title this week.
But Draper just wasn’t looking in the best of form and much to his anguish was forced to retire after suffering a 6-1 defeat in the second set.
Good afternoon!
By Ed Carruthers
Or good morning if you’re just waking up in the United Kingdom!
We’re mid-way through the tournament and what a week it’s been.
While we’ve not had as many matches on today at Melbourne Park, we’ve got a huge evening to bring you, with Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev both in action later this evening.
The big news this afternoon is that Jack Draper is currently a set down against Carlos Alcaraz and the world No 3 is showing no signs of letting up.
We’re deep into the second set here at Rod Laver Arena and Alcaraz is on the cusp of securing a double break that could put him 4-0 up, should he win the game.
It is his 11th break point opportunity of the match, but Draper is making things hard for the Spaniard.