![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768365730_454_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Follow live updates from Day 4 at Melbourne Park below!<\/p>\n
\u2018NOT HAPPY\u2019: CHAIR UMP STEPS IN AFTER SPANIARD ERUPTS AT CROWD<\/p>\n
Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had a considerable run-in with the Aussie crowd during his second-round match against American Reilly Opelka.<\/p>\n
And even chair umpire Nico Helwerth had to climb down from his perch to give a few particular Kia Arena spectators a talking-to.<\/p>\n
Midway through the fourth set, up 2-1 in the match, an incensed Davidovich Fokina made his way over to a section of the crowd behind and to his left to give them a piece of his mind. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not happy with some fans, and now he\u2019s going to have a conversation with them as well \u2014 and the umpire\u2019s going to have to come off the chair here,\u201d Nine commentator Brenton Speed said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Nico Helwerth is down quickly from the chair, and he\u2019s having a conversation with the fans. We don\u2019t see that very often … he\u2019s losing his patience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sensing tensions could boil over, chair umpire Helwerth stepped down and made his way to the area of the crowd to intervene, first attempting to calm Davidovich Fokina before addressing some members of the crowd. <\/p>\n
Helwerth then returned to his high seat and made a statement to the whole audience. <\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, ladies and gentlemen, for everybody in the stadium, keep it fair for both our athletes,\u201d Helwerth said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re trying their best out here. Please, we\u2019re playing a tennis match, all right? Thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Davidovich Fokina still wound up prevailing in what was an arduous four-hour battle over five sets, 6-3 7-6 5-7 4-6 6-4. <\/p>\n
Thompson launches the ball into crowd! | 00:29<\/p>\n
WILDCARD\u2019S DISASTER, IMPERFECT STORM AS AUSSIES GO COLD<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a forgettable start to Day 4 for the Aussies, starting with Talia Gibson\u2019s \u201cdisappointing\u201d choke against Diana Shnaider. <\/p>\n
Then, countrywoman Storm Hunter\u2019s campaign was clinically ended. <\/p>\n
Gibson\u2019s tournament ended in bitter disappointment after a stirring comeback by top opponent Diana Shnaider. <\/p>\n
A set up and with three match points in hand in the second set, wildcard Gibson was then stunned by the 23rd-seed Russian star, who took out the match 3-6 7-5 6-3 on Show Court Arena. <\/p>\n
Holding a 5-4 lead in the second and with match point at 40-30 on Shnaider\u2019s racquet, Gibson coughed up 13 of the next 17 points to surrender the set.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo loss is easy to take, but this is going to be a particularly hard one for Talia Gibson, having held three match points in that second set only to go down in three sets,\u201d Nine\u2019s Tony Jones said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, very, very disappointing \u2026 an opportunity goes begging there to go through to the third round.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would have been a massive upset had the Perth native been able to get the job done, with Gibson \u2014 who\u2019s never been to the AO\u2019s third round \u2014 ranking a lowly 119th in the world in comparison. <\/p>\n
A short time later, the resurgent Hunter\u2019s campaign was culled in straight sets by American Hailey Baptiste.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Aussie qualifier was on the back foot from the get-go and never quite recovered, losing 6-2 6-1 to see her 12th AO come to an end.<\/p>\n
The veteran was applauded for progressing to the second round, having finally put plaguing injury issues behind her after a ruptured Achilles in 2024. <\/p>\n
Gibson & Hunter lose, Sabalenka moves on | 01:25<\/p>\n
TEARY MADDIE\u2019S TOUCHING REVEAL<\/p>\n
A teary Maddison Inglis has made an emotional reveal after beating fellow Aussie and long-time close friend Kim Birrell. <\/p>\n
Inglis prevailed 7-6(6) 6-7(9) 6-4 in the captivating first-round thriller on Tuesday night, which finished after midnight. <\/p>\n
But the 28-year-old, overcome with emotion during her on-court post-match interview, explained how difficult it was competing against a close ally in heartfelt scenes. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels amazing, (but) it\u2019s really hard to play such a good friend, you know? The last few days have been a bit stressful,\u201d a teary Inglis said on John Cain Arena. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so tough. It was an amazing match with Kim. I absolutely adore her, so it was really hard to see her on the other side (losing). <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m stoked that I could play through those feelings and be in the second round. It means the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The all-Aussie clash started at 9pm local time and wrapped up after midnight, and while Inglis conceded it was a tad strange playing so late at night, she wasn\u2019t too fussed since it meant progression in the tournament. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t consider myself a night person, so it is different to get going this late in the day,\u201d she said during her post-match press conference. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut if it\u2019s going to be for anything, it\u2019s for the Australian Open. I was so pumped to be on John Cain. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a long day waiting around to play a friend, which was tough. But yeah, just got to do your best to try and distract yourself, have a little nap in the day, which I was able to do. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be tired tomorrow, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emotional Inglis wins in three-set epic | 02:50<\/p>\n
AUSTRALIAN GREAT RAFTER SLAMS \u2018GREEDY\u2019 STARS OVER PRIZEMONEY STANCE<\/p>\n
Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter has labelled current players \u201cgreedy\u201d after their push for more prizemoney from grand slams<\/a>.<\/p>\n Players such as Alex de Minaur and Coco Gauff have added their voices to a push for greater revenue share from the majors, arguing players deserve a larger proportion of revenue. The Australian Open raised its total prize pool to $111.5 million this year.<\/p>\n