Jordan Thompson says his declaration the Australian Open is “the wokest tournament ever” was out of frustration over rules that see fans “making a nuisance”.
The Aussie’s five-set win over compatriot Aleksandar Vukic saw him raging over new fan-friendly rules which mean attendees can move into their seats between games, not just during longer breaks like a change of ends.
While he did not attempt to explain what he meant by calling the tournament “woke” – which typically refers to awareness of social inequality – Thompson said he “had no idea” about the changes.
Watch Australia v West Indies on Kayo Sports. Every Test, ODI and T20I Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
“Heat of the battle. Probably shouldn’t have said it,” Thompson said of the “woke” comment.
“Yeah, there is a few things that concerned me, but we won’t go into that.
“This is the wokest tournament ever!” | 00:37
He continued: “How many years which have we been playing tennis, and then all of a sudden they spring on us that they can come in between not even a sitdown. So it just disrupts everyone’s rhythm.
“I mean, if someone is walking at the back and you are throwing the ball toss up, it’s impossible to see it because you have a moving person behind it.
“Yeah, it’s, in my opinion, it’s not good. I’m choosing my words carefully.
“I just don’t understand why we would do that. We are out there working, that’s our job, we’re tennis players. We don’t come in and storm into an office while someone is in a meeting.
“Like someone is just barging through the door, making a nuisance. Even though it doesn’t seem that way, but it is. It’s very off-putting. That’s one thing you can compare it to.”
DAY THREE PREVIEW
After top-ranked Aussie Alex de Minaur led a local charge into the second round on Monday, another six locals are hoping to join the party on Tuesday’s final day of first round action.
De Minaur advanced past former world No.3 Milos Raonic in abbreviated fashion when the big-serving Canadian withdrew hurt, trailing 2-0 in the third when it was still a set-all.
The Sydneysider was joined in victory by doubles world No.1 Storm Hunter, the powerful Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson – who declared the Australian Open was “woke” on route to a five-set triumph. Just one Aussie, Christopher O’Connell, won on day one of the tournament.
While not officially Australia’s top-ranked woman due to an injury-impacted 2023 campaign, Ajla Tomljanovic heads into her first round match with Croatia’s Petra Martic with reasonable expectations, after making several slam quarter-final runs across 2021 and 2022.
She caps off the night session on the more populist John Cain Arena, after crowd favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis (vs Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, not before 4pm) and young Olivia Gadecki (vs American Sloane Stephens, first match) are in action.
Raonic retires in upsetting ending | 01:04
Elsewhere top-50 bolter Max Purcell is a strong chance to advance against Hungarian qualifier Mate Valkusz, while wildcard James McCabe (vs American Alex Michelsen) and particularly Kim Birrell (vs streaky No.11 Jelena Ostapenko) have a tougher task.
On centre court, play gets underway with women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek in a mouth-watering clash with 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.
Follow the Australian Open in our LIVE BLOG below! Can’t see the blog? Tap here
DAY 3 ORDER OF PLAY (Show courts & Aussies in action)
Day session from 12pm AEDT, night session from 7pm AEDT, unless listed
ROD LAVER ARENA
Day session
No.1 Iga Swiatek (POL) vs Sofia Kenin (USA)
No.8 Holger Rune (DEN) vs Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)
Night session
No.3 Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs No.2 Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
MARGARET COURT ARENA
Day session
Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs No.11 Casper Ruud (NOR)
Camila Giorgi (ITA) vs No.18 Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Night session
No.6 Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Dominik Koepfer (GER)
Rebecca Marino (CAN) vs No.5 Jessiac Pegula (USA)
JOHN CAIN ARENA (from 11am)
Sloane Stephens (USA) vs Olivia Gadecki (AUS)
No.13 Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Not before 4pm: Sebastian Ofner (AUT) vs Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)
Not before 7pm: Petra Martic (CRO) vs Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)
AUSSIES IN ACTION
Kia Arena, Match 2: Max Purcell (AUS) vs Mate Valkusz (HUN)
Court 3, 11am: James McCabe (AUS) vs Alex Michelsen (USA)
Court 3, Match 3: No.11 Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) vs Kimberly Birrell (AUS)
