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Young women take centre stage on Saturday at the Australian Open with a rising star bidding to dethrone the reigning champion in the women’s final. Follow live!
But that’s apparently not of interest to former sports reporter turned politican Basil Zempilas, who was caught on a hot mic calling the match a “reserves game”.
Zempilas, who was the MC for several Australian Open finals when he worked for Channel Seven as well as an AFL commentator, was speaking at a press conference on Saturday as he moves from the Perth Lord Mayor role into WA state politics, representing the Liberal Party.
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He has been tipped as a potential future opposition leader, given his profile in the west and despite being elected to his current role with just 3,264 votes.
But a shocking comment to a reporter caught out on a live stream may come back to bite him.
On a stream by WAMN News, Zempilas could be heard asking a reporter before the press conference: “The tennis is on tonight, isn’t it?”
The reporter responded: “Ah yeah, the female final.
Zempilas replied: “It’s a reserves game then.
“I say that having been there, obviously. Plenty of nights when I’ve read the- uh?”
He was then cut off by someone off mic, potentially a political staffer warning him that he was audible, as he reacted briefly in horror and said “OK” before stopping what he was saying.
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It’s by no means the last chance saloon, nor will it take away from what she has achieved in her glittering career to date.
But for Aryna Sabalenka, this Australian Open somewhat represents her last chance to conquer a dream she shared with her father before he unexpectedly passed away in 2019 at the age of 43.
In season one of the Netflix series Break Point, Sabalenka opened up on the promise she made to her father, Sergey, and the weight it placed on her shoulders.
“I lost my father four years ago. We had one dream, that before 25 I will win a couple of Grand Slams,” Sabalenka said.
“And when he passed away, I started thinking too much about it.
“Now I’m 24 and there is zero in my pocket. I feel like I just put so much pressure on myself.”
The episode aired prior to Sabalenka’s Australian Open triumph last year as she beat Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Sabalenka came agonisingly close to winning her second grand slam in the same year, losing to Coco Gauff in the final of the 2023 US Open.
The Belarusian turns 26 on May 5, a few weeks before the French Open stars (May 26).
It means this Australian Open final against No. 12 seed Qinwen Zheng is perhaps the last chance to deliver on her dream, even if the goalposts have slightly moved.
Follow the Australian Open in our live blog below!
DAY 14 ORDER OF PLAY (Notable matches, all times AEDT)
Rod Laver Arena
Junior Girls’ Singles Final, 12pm
No.1 Renata Jamrichova (SVK) def No.6 Emerson Jones (AUS) 6-4, 6-1
Women’s Singles Final, 7:30pm
No.12 Qinwen Zheng (CHN) vs No.2 Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
Men’s Doubles Final
Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori (ITA) vs No.2 Rohan Bopanna (IND) and Matt Ebden (AUS)
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