The Australian Open's boozy 'party court' has caused its first controversy for 2026 just hours after play started, with a star snapping back at the crowd straight after winning her match on Sunday. It sits next to the two-storey Courtside Bar, which is sponsored by vodka brand Grey Goose this year, with spectators able to watch the action while they have a cocktail, wine or beer. One fan called it a 'total shade-throwing reaction to the crowd' online, with another calling her a 'first-class s**t stirrer'. When the courtside bar was first brought in two years ago, tournament director Craig Tiley said it would be an 'elevated experience' for fans. Putintseva appeared to mock the crowd with an exaggerated victory celebrationPictured: The two-storey Courtside Bar when it was launched in 2024.

Source: Daily Mail January 18, 2026 06:37 UTC