(CNN)Daniil Medvedev described part of the Australian Open crowd as having a “low IQ” after his four-set win over home favorite Nick Kyrgios.
Medvedev was put to the test by Kyrgios and eventually won 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 boos ahead of the Partisans’ home support.
“When you get booed between the first and second serve, it’s not easy, so you just have to stay calm and win the match,” he told Jim Courier in his on-court interview.
Courier, a former Australian Open champion, tried to explain that the crowd shouted “Siu” instead of booing. “It’s a football thing, a football thing,” he said.
Medvedev responded by telling the crowd he couldn’t hear what Courier was saying and imploring the crowd to “show some respect for Jim Courier.”
“If you respect someone, at least respect Jim Courier,” he said.
Approaching Medvedev, Courier reiterated that “they said ‘Siu’, which is one thing I think they say when Ronaldo scores a goal.”
READ: Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siu” celebration causes confusion at the Australian Open
“I don’t think they’re booing you,” he said. “I hope I’m right about that.”
Despite Courier’s explanation, Medvedev was clearly still unhappy in another post-match interview.
“It’s not anger, it’s just a little disappointing,” he told Eurosport. “I think it’s normal for everyone to experience it, especially when you play a home favorite and not just a home favorite but Nick.”
“I had a few moments on my serve – a lot of games were pretty easy for me actually, a lot of aces – were tough and he managed to make some good returns, then I have a break point [my] second serve and people cheer like you’ve already made a double fault.
“I mean, that’s just disappointing because not everyone does it, but those that do probably have low IQs.”
So far at this year’s Australian Open, crowds have taken every opportunity to mimic Ronaldo’s celebrations in the stands, causing some confusion.
During the opening round, several news outlets, commentators, and even some players mistook the shouts of “Siu” for boos before finally realizing what the fans were actually shouting.
The chants have received mixed reviews from players, with Kyrgios unsurprisingly enjoying boisterous support. After beating Liam Broady in the opening round, the 26-year-old performed the “Siu” celebration on the pitch – much to the delight of fans.
However, it’s fair to say Andy Murray wasn’t quite as thrilled.
“It’s painful,” the three-time Grand Slam winner said during his on-pitch interview as the sounds of “Siu” echoed in the stands.
“I think it’s like ‘Siu’ or something like what Ronaldo does when he scores a goal,” he added in his post-match press conference. “It was incredibly irritating.”
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