China / Sports

Courtside

(China Daily) Updated: 2017-01-21 07:21

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".

ESPN chastised Adler for his turn of phrase during coverage of the seven-time Grand Slam champion's win over Stefanie Voegele on Wednesday.

"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

Eugenie Bouchard (pictured above) cut a frustrated figure after she threw away a chance to reach the Australian Open last 16 on Friday, putting her comeback on hold.

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

Agnieszka Radwanska (pictured) may have been sent packing in the second round on Thursday but her sensational 'tweener', or between-the-legs shot, remains the unofficial play of the tournament so far.

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

Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka (pictured) said she felt intimidated by Johanna Konta using "big words" before her loss to the Brit.

"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

Serena Williams (pictured) said she wished Twitter was invented in Muhammad Ali's day.

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