Umpire Carlos Ramos in the firing line again… and Roger Federer wishes Nick Kyrgios was still in the tournament instead of doing commentary
- Rafael Nadal incurred a time violation on match point from umpire Carlos Ramos
- Nick Kyrgios turned up on Australia’s Channel 9 doing commentary on Friday
- Australian No 1 Ashleigh Barty spent a summer playing professional cricket
The Australian Open is near the halfway point with plenty of impressive wins and major shocks.
Maria Sharapova knocked out third-seed Caroline Wozniacki, and Angelique Kerber hammered Kimberley Birrell on Friday.
Here, Sportsmail’s MIKE DICKSON runs us through all the things that have been happening in Melbourne.
Umpire Ramos in firing line again
Rafael Nadal hammered promising young Aussie Alex De Minaur in straight sets, but not before he had incurred a time violation on match point from none other than Portuguese umpire Carlos Ramos. More proof that Ramos, central figure in the Serena Williams US Open controversy, does not discriminate.
Rafael Nadal incurred a time violation on match point from Portuguese umpire Carlos Ramos
Nick Kyrgios turned up on Australia’s Channel 9 doing commentary on Friday, having been eliminated early from both the singles and the doubles.
Kyrgios did a decent job but Roger Federer, whose match he analysed, spoke for many in expressing regret that he was behind the microphone and not in the tournament, being such a unique talent.
‘We wish he was on the court rather than a commentary booth, but I hope he did a good job,’ said the Swiss.
Nick Kyrgios turned up on Australia’s Channel 9 doing commentary having been eliminated
Ash’s hot on cricket
The very laid-back Australian No 1 Ashleigh Barty, who spent a summer playing professional cricket, did not go out of her way to scout her upcoming opponent from the match between Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki.
Speaking before Sharapova’s victory, she said: ‘I’ll be home this afternoon — if it happens to be raining and the cricket is not on, I will flick it over to that.’
Roberto Bautista Agut has clearly been encouraged by his win over Andy Murray. He made the last 16 by beating the highly-rated Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 10 seed, in straight sets.
Roberto Bautista Augt made the last 16 by beating the highly-rated Russian Karen Khachanov
The war of words in Australian tennis continued with Bernard Tomic hitting back at accusations from Lleyton Hewitt that he has threatened the Davis Cup captain and his family.
‘I got nothing to do with your family and I don’t care what’s wrong with you, you liar,’ he told Melbourne newspaper The Herald Sun.