The Australian Open is dubbed by many as the ‘Happy Slam’, with the sun shining, the drinks flowing and relentless tennis to be enjoyed over a three-week period.
However, at times, these factors can actually be a recipe for disaster, particularly when it comes to creating an overzealous crowd.
Such criticism is not exclusive to the natives either, although their support for their hometown heroes is always justifiably raucous.
Melbourne seems to be a melting pot for fans from all over the world, and having travelled so far to see their favourite players, they too will do whatever they can to roar them to success.
At times though, this can spill over into disrespect, with one match today seemingly crossing the line for Yulia Putintseva.
Yulia Putintseva blasts the Australian Open crowd
Facing Zeynep Sönmez, a young Turkish talent in the third round, it was always going to be tricky to bypass such an unknown commodity.
However, in three tough sets, Putintseva emerged victorious, and reserved some choice words for the fans present in her Australian Open crowd.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
She told reporters in her press conference: “I mean, there is always, like, someone in favour and someone to cheer for. That’s what’s great about the sport.
But today I think was really a lot of disrespectful moments when they were screaming between my first and second serve. But screaming, not even. Like really loud, like, just to make me mistake.”
She then gave examples: “In the game, I think it was 4-3, was a big point, and, like, I opened [up the] court very good. I take my forehand, the guy just started, like, coughing just for my shot. I was like, okay, now, I’m not going to lose. Like, really. I was ready to take it all, but I was ready to fight like until I die there.
“And, I mean, what can I do? It’s just some people have education of tennis and, unfortunately, some of them not.”
Putintseva was not done there, voicing one final frustration before sharing her pride at her reserved reaction: “I don’t think they were, like, disrespectful. They were disrespectful in the moment when like it was, like, important, and they could see it’s important. They start screaming, like, every time during my shots. Like when she was making a great shot, but I was still in the round, they were like, Yes.
“When it was let and the ball was coming to my side, they were also, like, screaming to my shot, which was, like, honestly it’s distracting to everyone, especially in this heat, in the condition.”
Putintseva was booed throughout her entire on-court interview.
The Australian Open crowd has been criticised in the past
This is not the first time the Australian Open crowd has come under criticism, as over the years there have been some very high-profile spats between players, umpires and the fans.
Even this week, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina argued with a member of the crowd, whilst Nick Kyrgios responded to one heckler during his doubles match, questioning why he had paid money to come and watch him.
Who has impressed you most so far at the Australian Open?
Danielle Collins had one of the more high-profile disputes with the Melbourne crowd last year, thanking the fans for her ‘big fat pay cheque’ and paying her bills.
Years earlier, Daniil Medvedev complained about the Australian Open crowd too.
Even Novak Djokovic was not safe from disrespect, with some sections of the Rod Laver Arena booing him after retiring during his 2025 semi-final exit.
