A banana-based blow-up saw American Coco Vandeweghe hit with one of the more bizarre code violations at the Australian Open on Monday.

The 10th seed – who lost in straight sets to Hungarian Timea Babos – is a fiery character and lived up to her reputation when she discovered there were no bananas on court.

Vandeweghe, who later said she had been battling the flu, was after a mid-match energy spike and refused to return to court as she argued her case with umpire Fergus Murphy.

“I’m waiting for the banana,” Vandeweghe was overheard saying.

“How are they not on court? I mean, come on, that’s not my fault.

“Why do I have to play under a different set of rules? I don’t have to make myself uncomfortable because it’s ill-prepared.

“I have needs and it’s not my fault that the court is ill-prepared.”

When Murphy insisted the match must go on, Vandeweghe continued: “So you want me to screw up routine because of an ill-prepared court? That’s not fair.

“I don’t understand why you’re being so rude about it. I’m being very cool.

“Now they’re here. Do you mind if I take a bite?”

Murphy immediately told Vandeweghe she did not have time but she took a bite anyway, leading to a delay of game code violation.

Vandeweghe was also handed a point penalty during the match for swearing on what turned out to be a poor day for American players at Melbourne Park.

Grigor Dimitrov’s licorice-inspired outfit

There are always a few Open outfits which get heads turning and astute observers quickly picked up on a theme to Dimitrov’s gear.

I've found Grigor Dimitrov's inspiration for his #AusOpen outfit… pic.twitter.com/9agItM7DON

— Dejan Kalinic (@DejanKalinic) January 15, 2018

Hi-fives at Hisense

Does Hisense Arena ring a bell?

If you’re a sports fan, it probably should.

The Chinese home appliance company has had the naming rights for a 10,000-seat stadium in the Melbourne Park precinct for the past 10 years.

The stadium not only hosts Open matches but Melbourne United fixtures in the NBL and is still called Hisense Arena in all official Australian Open documentation.

It turns out that the naming rights agreement expired in July last year, though, and Hisense is essentially receiving free advertising.

A Hisense spokesperson told the ABC that they called it quits on the deal “for business and strategic reasons”.

Not that anyone would know!

The photo

Dudi Sela and Ryan Harrison were involved in a heated exchange during their match. Photo: Getty

Nice work if you can get it …

Do you remember what you were doing at 15? We dare say you weren’t winning $90,000.

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk will take home that much – as a minimum – after surprising 25th seed Shuai Peng 6-2 6-2.

The quote

“I don’t think I’ve ever spoken a word to him in my life.

“I mean, where is that question even coming from? We’re at the Australian Open, man.”

Nick Kyrgios was perplexed when asked about his ‘friendship’ with NFL star Colin Kaepernick and what he thought of the fact the American had not been signed by a team.

Tuesday’s action

Two Aussies will feature on Rod Laver Arena, with 17-year-old Destanee Aiava facing top seed Simona Halep on centre court.

Ash Barty’s task looks a little easier, with the 18th seed to battle Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after Roger Federer opens his Melbourne Park campaign.

In-form teen Alex De Minaur will play Czech veteran Tomas Berdych at Hisense Arena and other Aussies in action include Jordan Thompson and wildcard quartet Thanasi Kokkinakis, Ajla Tomljanovic, Lizette Cabrera and Alexei Popyrin.

Elsewhere, Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic get their grand slam season going on Margaret Court Arena.