• Australian Open, Plays of the Day

Anger management

Agnieszka Radwanska had to apologise to the ball boy © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Match report: Murray records fourth straight-sets win over Melzer
  
• News: Nadal rolls into quarters as Soderling is dumped out
  
• News: Zvonareva and Clijsters on collision course
  
• Profile: Ekaterina Makarova | Andy Murray | Rafael Nadal | Flavia Pennetta

Day Eight Gallery

Anger management
If she is not careful, Agnieszka Radwanska could develop a bit of a reputation. After managing to rip the head off her racket in a rage during her opening-round match, the Pole smacked a ball boy in the head with a fierce serve. To her credit, Radwanska did stop play to check on the boy's wellbeing. Other than being a little dazed, there was no harm done.

Get your kit off
If Ekaterina Makarova wasn't feeling the nerves before her fourth round clash against Kim Clijsters, the umpire certainly didn't help matters. Just as the Russian prepared to take to Rod Laver Arena for the first time, she was ordered to change her outfit. To the disappointment of the male contingent in the crowd, Makarova disappeared down the tunnel and reappeared with a identical dress without sponsors' patches on her chest.

A timely challenge
There was controversy towards the end of Rafael Nadal's win over Marin Cilic. The Spaniard was two sets to the good and would in all probability have won without the aid of the umpire, but he did get a helping hand from Steve Ulrich at 3-3. Cilic sent his second serve marginally over the service line, but it was called good. Nadal elected to play the return and it was only when he realised his return was heading out that he opted to challenge the service call. Hawkeye ruled in Nadal's favour, Cilic mouthed 'so long' in reference to the time it took Nadal to challenge. Cilic was right, but Ulrich allowed the challenge to stand. We're not saying it is Nadal's standing in the game that saw Ulrich bow, but it certainly can't have done him any harm. Oh, and by the way, Cilic went on to lose his serve when he threw a backhand into the net at break point down.

Rafael Nadal has a strong female following © Getty Images

Enlarge

Feeling the love
Nadal's foray into modelling, posing half-naked to promote Armani's underwear range will have done nothing to lessen his female fan base. The Spaniard often attracts calls of wolf whistles from the crowd, and vows of undying love are not uncommon. Distracting perhaps? Apparently not - when asked if the calls made him feel uncomfortable, the world No. 1 replied: "No, I feel fantastic."

Passing the buck
Billy Connolly was a guest in Andy Murray's box to watch the British No. 1 thrash Jurgen Melzer, but Judy Murray didn't need any wisecracks to make her smile as she watched her son power into the quarter-finals. Murray revealed he used to listen to Connolly tapes as a child, blaming the Scottish comedian for his swearing on court. "It's probably why my language is so bad on the court," he said.

Stating the obvious
You have to feel for Flavia Pennetta, who was probably in no mood for comedy following her defeat to Petra Kvitova. The Italian won the first set, but was beaten 3-6 6-3 6-3, and in her post-match press conference, the Italian was asked, "You won the first set, then what happened after that?" To which Pennetta responded: "She won the second and the third." Classic.

Double trouble
Stanislas Wawrinka may have a tall order ahead of him if he is to end defending champion Roger Federer's run at the Australian Open, but the Swiss is prepared to try anything. And the No. 19 seed revealed he has been practising left handed. "I need to play a match against [a friend] with my left hand, so that's why I'm practicing every day," he said. "I just try to have fun, and that's it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.