The Australian Open Daily Deuce: day six
In our Australian Open column, The Daily Deuce, we reflect on the drama you might have missed on and off the court, as well as the sartorial triumphs and missteps of the sporting elite.
• The Australian Open Daily Deuce: day three
• The Australian Open Daily Deuce: day four
• The Australian Open Daily Deuce: day five
Venus and Camila hurt eyes
With the fashion stakes never more prevalent, Venus Villiams and her opponent Camila Giorgi lowered the bar drastically on Saturday.
While Venus was delighted to make it into the second week of a grand slam for the first time in almost four years, her dress was the least flattering seen this week – until we cast our eyes across the net and saw her opponent’s Ken Done-inspired number.
Venus Williams’ dress…
… not quite as bad as Camila Giorgi’s. Photos: Getty
Andy’s mum embarrasses Rafa, Kev
Good on you Mrs Murray. Judy’s great value on the Tweet, and she dug up this gem of Rafael Nadal and his fourth-round opponent Kevin Anderson to commemorate their meeting. We can only suspect Andy’s 21st would have been a hoot with Judy at the projector.
So Rafa plays Kevin Anderson in last 16. Here they are 16 years ago, at a 12u event. 🙂 #ausopen pic.twitter.com/Ehztkf1t0D
— judy murray (@judmoo) January 23, 2015
That Dudi Sela, he’s a dude
Alright, so this one technically stems from day five, but we digress.
Commentator Jim Courier mentioned during Friday night’s one-sided beatdown from Rafael Nadal on Israel’s Dudi Sela that there was some great footage of Dudi and Ivo Karlovic hugging after a match.
Great, because diminutive Dudi stands at 1.75m tall, and Dr Ivo a healthy 2.08m. After losing this match, Dudi wanted to make sure Ivo heard his congratulations – and the rest is, well, priceless.
Say my name!
Victoria Azarenka has become a staple Down Under, and she made it through to her seventh consecutive fourth round by beating Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova on Saturday.
But don’t you go getting this Belarusian’s moniker messed up now.
“One thing,” she said after the match. “I don’t know why everybody keeps calling me Vicki but that’s not my name. Vika, Victoria those are goes.”
Duly noted, Vika.
Vika, or Victoria. Those are your options. Photo: Getty
Twenty-five years after John McEnroe was defaulted from the Australian Open against Mikael Pernfors, his compatriot John Isner was channelling a little bit of that rage.
After losing a set in a tiebreak after a net cord, big John let loose with some choice racquet abuse. His namesake would have been proud.