Donald Trump at centre of frosty press conference with Aus Open star | Tennis | Sport

US tennis star Amanda Anisimova has shot down a reporter at the Australian Open after being asked about President Donald Trump during a press conference. Anisimova met the media on Tuesday after her second-round 6-1, 6-4 victory over Czech star Katerina Siniakova at Melbourne Park.

The 24-year-old’s post-match press conference should have been an opportunity to celebrate her progress in the Aussie Open. However, it got tense when one reporter asked about politics.

The reporter said: “I’ve been asking a lot of the American players how it feels to play under the American flag right now. I’m curious how you feel?”

In response, the women’s tennis star said: “I was born in America so I’m always proud to represent my country. A lot of us are doing really well.

“It’s great to see a lot of great athletes on the women’s and men’s side.” However, the reporter persisted.

He added: “In the context of the last year of everything that’s been happening in the US, does that complicate that feeling at all?” Anisimova, seemingly irked by the repeated line of questioning, bluntly replied: “I don’t think that’s relevant.”

In recent times, a slew of political matters in the States have spilt over into the realm of sports, with athletes, supporters and coaches alike voicing their views. Earlier this month, the tragic shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mum, by an ICE agent sparked widespread outrage across America.

Among those who publicly condemned the incident were former US footballer Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe, a vocal critic of Trump, shared her thoughts on the matter during her podcast, ‘A Touch More,’ expressing that Good’s death is ‘just so sad.’

She said: “I think this has been abnormal for the entire time the Trump administration has been conducting these raids and disappearing people. They’re knocking people’s phones out of their hands. It’s lawful to do that. They’re basically intimidating and threatening people not to protest and not to track what they’re doing, and that’s a lot of what was happening in Minneapolis.

“The community coming out, keeping their eyes on ICE – where are they, trying to stamp their people, impeding them in what feels (like) a very unlawful way of doing these immigration raids.

“It’s just really sad. Obviously, our heart goes out to Renee Good’s family and her community and all the people that love her and support her.”