Perth Mayor Lourdes Basil Zempilas has responded after being criticized on social media for appearing to call the women's Australian Open final “reserves”.
Zembilas came out and said the clip deleted the context of his comment, which came after the reporter asked “Is there tennis tonight?”
After the reporter responded with “women’s final,” Zembilas said, “Oh, it’s a reserve match then.”
After being pulled on Twitter, now known as X, Zempilas posted portraying the conversation as “completely untrue.”
He said his comment about “being spare” was a reference to reading the news at the same time the tennis match was being broadcast.
“Reading the news against tennis was what I used to refer to as ‘being back-up,’” Zembelas said.
“Not tennis.
“I can't make it more clear or emphasize it more.
He added: “It is completely disingenuous and completely wrong to suggest otherwise, and I will not be accused of saying something I did not say.”
Zembilas said the line before announcing his candidacy for the Liberal Party primary nomination in the 2025 election.
5:30 PM: Sakamoto wins the Junior Boys single
Japanese youngster Rei Sakamoto won the Australian Open junior title after winning from behind.
The fourth seed defeated Czech Jan Komstat 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 in a close final, making the 17-year-old ranked 949th in the world in singles.
He has earned over $7,000 in prize money throughout his career.
Remarkably, the unseeded and unseeded Comstat had a stunning tournament, knocking out sixth seed Alexander Razigi in the third round, and 12th seed Tianhui Zhang in the first round, despite the 16-year-old having a total prize money of $963 to his name. . No single or double titles.
4.30pm: The Australian star is preparing for a big future
Emerson-Jones has made her name known as an Australian girl with sparkling potential despite losing in the girls' singles final on Saturday.
The 15-year-old Queenslander beat top seed Renata Jamrichova 3-0 in the first set before the Slovakian won 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.
But Jones joined the likes of future stars including Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and – in 1992 – Lindsay Davenport, by just reaching the junior final at Melbourne Park.
Jones is trained by David Taylor, the former mentor of long-time Grand Slam champion Sam Stosur, and has brilliance in her lineage.
She is the daughter of triathlete Loretta Harrop, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Her 17-year-old brother, Hayden Jones, reached the quarterfinals in the boys' singles at the Australian Open this week.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me all week,” Jones said after the honor of playing on Center Court.
“It was a great experience. Congratulations to Renata, you totally deserve it.”
Sabalenka is fit and ready for the final
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka predicts her Grand Slam final experience will leave her emotionally prepared and “absolutely ready to fight” as she aims to become the first woman in 11 years to win back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park.
After avenging her US Open defeat to Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, Sabalenka is now the favorite to add a second Grand Slam title to her CV when she faces Qinwen Cheng, who has reached a Grand Slam final for the first time.
Since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013, no woman has managed to achieve back-to-back Australian Open titles in a season-opening Grand Slam.
The first woman to reach consecutive Melbourne Park finals since Serena Williams, the hard-hitting Belarusian will take to the court for her third major final – an advantage she hopes to exploit against an opponent who will be playing for her. Her first Grand Slam title.
“I would say emotionally I would be fully prepared to fight. I wouldn’t go crazy,” Sabalenka said.
“Because when you play your first final, you get emotional and rush sometimes.
“When you get to the finals for the third time, you say, ‘Okay, it's a final, that's OK.'
“It's just another game, and you're able to separate yourself from that thing. Just focus on your game.”
After a 13-match winning streak at the Australian Open, Sabalenka's form has been ominous since she set foot on Melbourne Park to defend her title.
The second seed has yet to drop a set, and until the semi-final tiebreaker against Gauff, she had not conceded more than three games in a set either.
If the title of Australian Open champion weighed heavily on Sabalenka's mind, the 25-year-old certainly did not show it on the court.
Sabalenka said that she adopted a practical approach in defending her title at the Australian Open.
Sabalenka said: “Of course this is difficult (defending a Grand Slam), but in the worst case you will lose it next year, and there is nothing to defend.”
“(It's) not like I'm ignoring the pressure. I'm just shifting my focus and it's working well so far.
“There is still one more goal, and I will do my best.
“I think I'm very calm inside (as) I am outside. I'm defending the title, but in the worst case, I say 'I'm going to lose this championship, and there will be fewer points to defend next year'. Then that's it.
“This is like helping me stay focused and do my best in every game without thinking about defending something.”
Sabalenka, who has now reached the semi-finals of six consecutive Grand Slams, beat Cheng in straight sets in their only previous meeting in the quarter-finals of the US Open last year.
But she is familiar with the rising Chinese star's style, having trained with the No. 12 seed in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
“We played once but we practiced a lot,” Sabalenka said.
“We trained here before the tournament, and she's playing really great tennis. “She's a really nice girl and playing great tennis again. It would be a great fight if I were to face it.
“Her forehand is very heavy and moves well too. Fighting for every point. I think her forehand is her best shot.
“She was putting her opponents under pressure, playing really aggressive tennis, and I think that's why she does it — she's going to be in the top 10, right? That's why she's in the top 10.”
Originally published as Australian Open Day 14: Live scores, all the latest news from Melbourne Park
