Djokovic row as ailing Sinner beats heat to reach Melbourne quarters

Novak Djokovic was at the centre of another Australian Open row on Monday while defending champion Jannik Sinner needed medical attention in fierce heat to battle into the quarter-finals.

But American teenage qualifier Learner Tien’s fairytale run is over after he suffered a thigh problem in a four-set defeat to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

With temperatures rising above 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) for a second successive day, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina beat Veronika Kudermetova — then declined to shake the Russian’s hand.

Five-time major champion Iga Swiatek will later be desperate to avoid a big shock against “lucky loser” Eva Lys in her bid to win a maiden Melbourne crown.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic on Sunday refused to do a routine on-court interview after beating Jiri Lehecka to set up a quarter-final blockbuster against Carlos Alcaraz.

Afterwards he said it was in protest at Tony Jones, a top sports presenter with host broadcaster Channel Nine, who he accused of “insulting and offensive comments” towards him and Serbian fans.

Jones on Friday labelled Djokovic a “has-been”, among other things, and said: “Kick him out.”

Djokovic said he would boycott interviews with the TV station until he got an apology.

He later released a short video on X to explain his stance and it has been viewed more than 60 million times, and caught the attention of the site’s owner Elon Musk.

“It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media,” Musk posted in response, with Djokovic replying: “Indeed.”

Tennis stars past and present and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all waded into the row.

Jones apologised on air Monday and hours later organisers Tennis Australia said: “Novak