Gorilla goner
US broad-caster ESPN has dropped commentator Doug Adler after he compared Venus Williams (pictured) to a "gorilla" at the Australian Open-although he insisted the word he used was "guerrilla".
"During an Australian Open stream on ESPN3, Doug Adler should have been more careful in his word selection," an ESPN statement said. "He apologized and we have removed him from his remaining assignments."
Adler, a 59-year-old former player, commented during the second-round match: "She (Voegele) misses a first serve and Venus is all over her.
"You see Venus move in and put the gorilla (or guerllia) effect on. Charging."
Bouchard's blues
The 22-year-old Canadian has returned to competitive form after a torrid period with injuries, but her promising run in Melbourne was halted by America's Coco Vandeweghe.
Bouchard was a break up in the final set but was broken back and then squandered four break points before losing 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. "It really sucks. Very disappointed, because I feel like I had so many chances, especially in that third set," she said.
"You need to try and close out as many of these matches when you get those chances."
However, it's been an encouraging month for Bouchard, who won her first matches since September en route to the Sydney International semifinals.
Tween peaks
Poland's Radwanska, nicknamed "The Ninja" for her shot-making, was playing Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round when she chased down a ball on the baseline and instinctively flicked it back between her legs for a brilliant winner.
The tweener has been prominent in Melbourne, with Dominic Thiem also pulling one off during his win over Jordan Thompson. But a Nick Kyrgios tweener was less well received. The Aussie played the shot unnecessarily in his five-set defeat to Andreas Seppi and was accused of being too casual.
Words apart
"I heard her talk, and she sounds really intelligent. It's just, like, oh, my God, I sound illiterate or something," said the Florida-based 19-year-old.
"She uses big words, you know. Like, big words! Like, I can't say the words that she's saying. It's so hard to explain. She uses big words in her accent, and it sounds really smart."
Tweet dreams
Asked in Melbourne who she would have followed if Twitter was around when she was young, Williams listed three former tennis stars and the legendary boxer.
"Every girl on tour would have followed Monica Seles, for sure. I would have followed Steffi (Graf), Zina (Garrison). So many people I'd have followed. Muhammad Ali, can you imagine?" she said.
Williams, who has almost eight million Twitter followers, is a big fan of social media.
"It's not only enjoyable, but it's a good opportunity to stand up for social issues and things I find important," she added.
Agencies
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