Tennis professional Yulia Putintseva has openly criticised what she described as "disrespectful" behaviour from spectators during her third-round match at the Australian Open, following her hard-fought victory over crowd favourite Zeynep Sonmez.
Partisan Atmosphere in Melbourne
The match took place in a notably partisan atmosphere, with Sonmez enjoying strong support from Melbourne's substantial Turkish community. This backing intensified after Sonmez's previous act of sportsmanship, where she assisted a fainting ball girl during an earlier match, further endearing her to local spectators.
Despite facing this challenging environment, the 31-year-old Putintseva demonstrated remarkable resilience to secure a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 victory. This triumph marks her first-ever progression to the fourth round at the Melbourne tournament, representing a significant career milestone.
Post-Match Confrontation
Immediately following the final point, Putintseva celebrated with a dance and directed gestures toward the stands, actions that prompted audible boos from sections of the crowd. This tension continued throughout her post-match interview, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere on court.
Specific Complaints About Crowd Conduct
Putintseva elaborated on her concerns regarding spectator behaviour during her press conference. "There is always someone in favour and someone to cheer for, that's what's great about the sport," she acknowledged. "But today I think was really a lot of disrespectful moments when they were screaming between my first and second serve. Like really loud, just to make me (make a) mistake."
The Kazakhstani player provided a specific example of what she perceived as deliberate disruption: "I think it was 4-3, was a big point, and I opened the court very good. I take my forehand, the guy just started coughing just for my shot. I was like, 'OK, now I'm not going to lose.'"
Mental Resilience and Unusual Tactics
Putintseva revealed the mental fortitude required to overcome both her opponent and the challenging atmosphere. "I was ready to take it all but I was ready to fight until I die there," she stated emphatically. "What can I do? It's just some people have education of tennis and, unfortunately, some of them not."
She expressed particular pride in maintaining her composure, contrasting her current approach with previous behaviour: "I'm very happy that I kept my calm, because Yulia last year would probably throw something at them at some moment."
Surprising Psychological Strategy
Perhaps most unexpectedly, Putintseva disclosed that she maintained focus by silently singing an obscure Russian children's song about rabbits to herself during tense moments. "It is very old school, from old, old movies," she explained. "It has nothing to do with anything. It's just about rabbits who eat the grass. I was distracting myself with this."
This choice represented a significant departure from her usual musical preferences. "Usually I'm (listening to) Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and here it comes a rabbit song," she noted with bemusement. "I don't know why."
The incident raises broader questions about spectator etiquette at major tennis tournaments and the psychological challenges athletes face when competing in hostile environments. Putintseva's victory, achieved under these circumstances, demonstrates both her technical skill and considerable mental strength as she advances to the fourth round of the season's first Grand Slam tournament.
