Channel 7 took its relentless Australian Open cross-promotion to a new level, asking a player about My Kitchen Rules just moments after her victory.
Australian young gun Daria Gavrilova had just convincingly won her first round match on Monday night and was being interviewed on Rod Laver Arena.
‘You know the Russians are in My Kitchen Rules this year too, did you know that?’ Basil Zempilas suddenly asked the Moscow-born star.
Channel 7 took its relentless Australian Open cross-promotion to a new level, asking Australian young gun Daria Gavrilova about My Kitchen Rules after her first-round victory
The 23-year-old didn’t miss a beat before retorting that Sydney pair Olga and Valeria, due to appear when the show premieres in two weeks, weren’t real Russians.
‘They didn’t look so Russian and I feel like they’re faking their accents too – they’re Aussie,’ she said.
Before a stunned Zempilas could try to save the show’s reputation by denying her accusation, Gavrilova showed herself to be a big fan of the show.
‘I do want to go to My Kitchen Rules someday, so if anyone here is watching it can you please invite me,’ said, cutting him off.
Viewers, who were already subjected to ads for the reality cooking show during every break in coverage, did not respond well.
‘Well done Channel 7, constantly finding new ways to annoy us,’ one wrote on Twitter.
‘You know the Russians are in My Kitchen Rules this year too, did you know that?’ Basil Zempilas suddenly asked the Moscow-born star
Sydney pair Olga and Valeria will appear on the 2018 MKR season when it returns in two weeks
Viewers, who were already subjected to ads for the reality cooking show during every break in coverage, did not respond well
‘Pls do not turn the Australian Open into one big promotion for your TV shows. The MKR/Russian question was cringeworthy,’ another wrote.
‘Post match interview at the Australian Open & Channel 7 have managed to mention both AFL & My Kitchen Rules,’ a third raged.
‘Can someone please stop these idiots from getting any more sports coverage?’
Others were just angry about the frequency of ads promotion the show, which will likely continue for the whole tournament.
‘The worst part about the fist day of the Australian Open is realizing you have to endure two week’s worth of My Kitchen Rules ads,’ one wrote, calling it the ‘worst show on television’.
Australia’s No. 2 women’s player turned it on against the American qualifier, winning 6-1 6-1 in 63 minutes on Monday night
Others were just angry about the frequency of ads promotion the show, which will likely continue for the whole tournament
However, others found her response so amusing they were prepared to overlook the shameless cross-promotion
However, others found her response so amusing they were prepared to overlook the shameless cross-promotion.
‘Gavrilova saying the Russians in MKR fake their accents and aren’t Russian is killing me,’ one wrote.
‘”The Russians in MKR are ring-ins” according to Dasha Gavrilova. #quoteoftheday.’ another wrote.
Australia’s No. 2 women’s player turned it on against the American qualifier, winning 6-1 6-1 in 63 minutes on Monday night.
Gavrilova lost her opening serve then put together nine straight games to take a stranglehold on the match.
Her biggest issue didn’t seem to be her opponent, but her own supporters.
As she headed towards success in the second set, she repeatedly motioned towards her own box, questioning where family and friends had gone.
Gavrilovawill play Belgian world No. 36 Elise Mertens on Wednesday, to whom she lost a tight three-set match at the Hopman Cup
As it happened, her father and housemate were answering the call of nature.
‘I wasn’t too happy with some of them leaving… but that’s OK. They needed to go,’ she said.
‘It distracted me. I just think of the worst things that could happen. I was like ‘is someone sick?’ Did someone have to get out of the stadium because of something? I just create really weird stories in my head.’
Toilet breaks aside, Gavrilova said she was satisfied with her night’s work.
Gavrilovawill play Belgian world No. 36 Elise Mertens on Wednesday, to whom she lost a tight three-set match at the Hopman Cup.