Wimbledon diary: Murray feels the love from Serena for showing feminist side

 Andy Murray rapidly corrected a journalist who said Sam Querrey was ‘the first US player to reach a major semi-final since 2009’. Photograph: Joe Toth/AP

Murray in credit for correction

Andy Murray might still be feeling a bit sore after his quarter-final defeat, but at least he won praise from Serena Williams for correcting a journalist who said Sam Querrey was “the first US player to reach a major semi-final since 2009”. Williams was pleased to hear Murray point out that American women have fared better than the men during the past eight years.

“I do not think there is a woman player who is not totally supportive of Andy Murray,” Williams said. “He has spoken up for women’s issues and women’s rights, especially in tennis, forever. He has done it again. He has such a wonderful mother, who has been such a strong figure in his life and he has done so much for us on our tour. We love Andy Murray.”

Judy Murray was similarly impressed with her son’s feminist stance. “Andy is a great advocate for women’s tennis,” she said. “Having had female coaches for most of his formative years has helped as well. But he does his bit to help the girls.”

Prices drop after Big Four devalued

Not since the 2009 French Open have none of Murray, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal reached the last four of a grand slam but the growing sense of uncertainty in the men’s game has not been met with excitement from fans. One ticket website noted that prices for the men’s final fell by 18% after Murray’s exit, while there were plenty of empty seats on Centre Court during the first semi-final between Querrey and Marin Cilicon Friday. Admittedly it wasn’t the most mouthwatering of clashes on paper but it was disappointing to see so many gaps in the stands for such a big match. It did not go unnoticed on social media.

Venus and Hingis fined

Venus Williams has barely put a foot wrong during her run to the women’s final but the American did fall foul of the authorities when she skipped a mandatory television interview following her quarter-final victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday, earning her a $7,500 fine. Williams was not the only veteran in hot water. Martina Hingis was fined $3,000 (£2,310) for unsportsmanlike conduct during her women’s doubles match on Wednesday.

He hobbled out of the tournament on the first daybut Nick Kyrgios is still making headlines. He was not amused when he found out about Ken Rosewall criticising him and Bernard Tomic.

“I feel a lot of us older players, who came from tennis-playing families, we learned to play the game and behave,” Rosewall told Reuters. “Plus the fact there was more discipline then. The players of today, because they’ve made more money, they think that they don’t need that discipline, and misbehave accordingly.”

Kyrgios would not take that lying down. “Same shit everyday man …people need to stay in their lane … I’m sorry we can’t all be perfect like you ‘older players’ smh,” the 22-year-old wrote on Twitter – before later hitting the delete button.