- Kazakhstan star wasn’t the crowd favourite
Fired-up tennis star Yulia Putintseva slammed the ‘disrespectful’ Australian Open crowd after beating Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez – and the veteran also raised eyebrows after twerking on court.
Putintseva, 31, had never progressed beyond the third round at Melbourne Park, and didn’t have the boisterous crowd on her side on Friday.
After winning in three sets, the Kazakhstan star cupped a hand to her ear before twerking in the direction of the stands.
She also felt the majority of supporters, many of whom were pro-Turkish – lacked tennis etiquette.
‘The crowd is always in favour of someone and has someone to cheer for, and that’s what is great about the sport…but today (there was) a lot of disrespectful moments,’ she said.
‘There was a lot of screaming between my first and second serve, and screaming really loud, hoping I make a mistake.
Fired-up tennis star Yulia Putintseva slammed the ‘disrespectful’ Australian Open crowd after beating Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez on Friday
The veteran also raised eyebrows after twerking on court (pictured) following her hard-fought victory over three sets
Speaking post-match, the Kazakhstan star said ‘some people have an education of tennis, and unfortunately, some do not’ (pictured, cupping her ear to Turkish fans)
‘In one game, I think it was [at] 4-3, it was a big point, and I opened the court very good, and I took my forehand, and a guy just started coughing just for my shot.
‘I was like ‘OK, now I’m not going to lose’. I was ready to take it all. I was ready to fight until I die there.
‘What can I do? Some people have an education of tennis, and unfortunately, some do not.’
Speaking in commentary, Aussie tennis identity Liz Smylie felt Putintseva twerking was ‘unnecessary’ – but it followed the Kazakhstan star being widely booed by a number of Turkish supporters.
Putintseva also felt her hard-fought victory displayed her mental focus.
‘[The key to winning] was keeping my emotions down, because there were too many things going on,’ she said.
‘It was an amazing match, she (Sonmez) is a good player and the conditions were tough.
‘It was (also) very hot, one side is very windy. It was tough to do.’
Putintseva next plays 29th seed Iva Jović for a spot in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
