- Daria Kasatkina was not happy with Channel 9’s tennis coverage
- Broadcaster didn’t show women’s match on two main channels
- Women’s match was on centre court in the prime-time slot
Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina has slammed Channel Nine’s coverage after the broadcaster snubbed a prime-time clash between two top female players in favour of men’s games.
Reigning Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina took to Rod Laver Arena against former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova on Tuesday, but their match was available only on Nine’s streaming platform, 9Now.
Instead, Channel Nine’s main channel showed home-favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis’ match against Sebastian Ofner, while Alexander Zverev’s match against Dominik Koepfer was shown on second channel 9Gem.
Kasatkina took to social media to express her anger at the situation.
‘No women’s tennis shown on TV. They are playing on Rod Laver, prime time and for what … don’t wanna say who they (are) actually showing now,’ she wrote on X.
Daria Kasatkina has criticised Channel Nine’s tennis coverage after the broadcaster snubbed a prime-time clash between two top female players
Kasatkina was annoyed that the women’s match couldn’t be found on Nine’s two main channels (pictured, Nine commentator Jim Courier interviews Alex de Minaur)
Kasatkina was seemingly hinting at Zverev, who will stand trial in May after he was ordered to pay fines of £387,000 ($A750,000) after allegedly assaulting his former partner.
Kasatkina’s fans were also outraged by the situation and flooded the comment section with statements of support.
‘100% agree, I literally just posted about this,’ replied one X user.
‘Yes! As an Australian, I’m disgusted at my country’s broadcasting and switched off,’ said another.
‘The coverage has been absolutely ridiculous,’ said a third.
Nine responded to Daily Mail Australia’s request for comment with : ‘We have every match from the Australian Open available live and free for all Australians to stream on 9Now.’
Meanwhile, Zverev has blasted reporting surrounding his upcoming court case in Germany, claiming journalists are motivated by ‘clicks’ rather than the truth.
After defeating fellow German Dominik Koepfer in his first-round match at Melbourne Park on Tuesday night, the sixth seed was quizzed about the case and his role on the ATP player council.
‘Why would it not be?,’ the 26-year-old responded when asked if it was appropriate if he remained part of the player’s committee.
Reigning Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina took on former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova
Alexander Zverev’s match against Dominik Koepfer was shown on Nine’s second channel
‘Nobody has said anything to me. I don’t have a reason not to believe that.’
In an awkward exchange, the only questions he got in English during his press conference were about his trial, which he will reportedly not have to appear in court for.
Zverev pushed back when told there were ‘some people’ who insist he shouldn’t be playing tennis at all.
‘Like who? Journalists are saying that, some, who are actually interested more in this story to write about and more about the clicks than the actual truth,’ he said.
After no questions about his on-court performance were forthcoming, Zverev switched to speaking in German.
Women’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek, as well as some men’s players, were asked about Zverev’s position on the ATP council.
Swiatek admitted she was in a tricky spot and said ‘there’s no good answer to that’.
‘I think it’s up to ATP what they decide,’ she said on Tuesday.
‘For sure it’s not good when a player who’s facing charges like that is kind of being promoted.’
