A rowdy spectator was ejected from Rod Laver Arena after trying to disrupt Rafael Nadal’s serve at the Australian Open.
The woman repeatedly shouted out as Rafa went through his service routine, then aimed a middle-finger gesture at the court after being reprimanded by the umpire.
Rafa was asked during his post-match interview whether he knew the person who flipped him the bird.
“No, and honestly I don’t want to know,” the 20-time Grand Slam champion said with a laugh.
He later told reporters:
“Maybe she took too much gin or tequila. I don’t know. But honestly it was a strange situation, but, yeah, funny at the same time.
“You know, sometimes there is people for everything around the world. Somebody doing the finger to me… I don’t know the reason. I was surprised, yes, but at the same time was thinking, ‘Poor girl.’ Because probably she was drunk or something like this.”
It was later reported that she was shouting insults to our champ after taking offence at the length of his service routine.
COMO SIEMPRE RAFA CON TU DON DE SABER ESTAR GRANDE RAFA SIEMPRE CONTIGO
Can’t help but love Rafa… his reaction with a “who me?” and a great big smile and then a thumbs up said it all…
He played a great match… another 3 straight
with a stepped up level …
Because of an increase in Covid cases, mostly at the Holiday Inn at the airport, Melbourne has announced a five day lockdown which will begin starting tomorrow….
No spectators will be allowed at the AO for the next five days.. Players will continue to play their matches but when completed they must return back to their hotels and are not to venture out anywhere…
I know the players love having fans in the stands cheering them on… but safety always first…
Stay careful and safe Rafa…
VAMOS ❤️RAFA
Thanks for the update Marileena.
I didn’t think it would come to that because I thought it was confined to the hotel. Early on Thursday morning [NY] I read about those COVID-19 infections, 13 in total at that time. Officials are very worried because some of those infected have the UK variant which is around 50% more infectious than the original COVID-19.
In the US we are now double masking because this variant is spreading so fast that it’s expected to be the dominant variant within a couple of months.
Another bomb is that S. Africa stopped administering a certain vaccine because preliminary reports on the S. African variant may render vaccines very weak or ineffective. Scientists are still gathering data so it’s not known what this variant is capable of.
Stay safe everyone.
Corrections:
Second paragraph
Officials are very concerned because among the 13 infected some were infected with the UK variant which is around 50% more infectious than the original SARS-CoV-2.
You handled the lady with the finger very well think she had a little drop to much to drink all the very best for your next match vamos rafa
Oh Rafa, u r such a class act. The way u handheld the situation was awesome. Best of luck for the next round. Vamos 💪💪💪
Cringe! A perfect response from Rafa to the drunken woman’s antics. Rafa served two aces immediately after the incident, so maybe there was a case for bringing her back into the arena 😀
A solid, efficient performance from Rafa, and thankfully, no signs of a back issue. Onwards and upwards through the gears champ!
Rafa is still saying at his press conference that his back is not right and that he can not serve the way he wants. I thought he looked really good in the second half of the match and he didnt seem to be in pain. Bur he’s probably only at 80% of the Rafa we know so well.
Rafa said that his team will be trying new techniques Friday looking for marginal improvement.
I love the way he’s being so aggressive on the court and playing quickly. As always Rafa is adapting to the circumstances.
Keep it up Rafa!
Yes David, he still has a back issue, but I meant there were no visible signs on court.
Rafa is the master of problem solving and his modified service action has helped to relieve the strain on his back and worked for him in the first two rounds. The ultimate test will be against stronger service returners.
I agree Lorna. I did see some very short videos of him practicing and he looked like our Rafa. But we know that Rafa is good at masking pain probably due to his high tolerance for it. All I can do is hope he’s getting better and that he’s not causing further injury.
Yes, “onward and upward.”
It’s a shame that fans won’t be allowed in at Melbourne Park for the next five days, just as we were all enjoying the atmosphere, but safety comes first.
The heckler at Rafa’s match took to Melbourne radio to say that she had no regrets about her behaviour and that’s she’s”….pretty much like that anyway…a bit out there.”
The sad thing is that, in the cold light of day, she doesn’t see anything wrong with what she did and feels that paying for a ticket gives her the right to act in such an obnoxious manner. She calls herself a “tennis aficionado” who comes down from Sydney to watch the Open every year. I say, bad luck to the tournament!
Actually I believe it’s more serious than a simple case of drunkenness.
She had the gall to call a radio show and while wishy washy about it, accuse him of doping like lance armstrong. I believe she should not be allowed back to any of his matches and his team should tell her about what happened to Bachelot. Enough of this.
WHO, ME???
Loved Rafa’s response. His face tells it all. Be it a facial expression or a quick-witted response, Rafa’s comedic take on things always cracks me up.
Yes, loved it ! 😂
😆 🙌
Such a classy person always, win or lose!
Unfortunately there are some people who are ugly both inside and outside. She is one of them. A classic Karen if I ever saw one. Rafa handled it with grace.
It’s a shame that fans won’t be allowed in at Melbourne Park for the next five days, just as we were enjoying the atmosphere, but safety comes first.
The heckler at Rafa’s match took to Melbourne radio to say that she had no regrets about her behaviour and that she’s “….pretty much like that anyway….a bit out there.”
The sad thing is that, in the cold light of day, she doesn’t see anything wrong with what she did and feels that paying for a ticket gives her the right to act in such an obnoxious manner. She calls herself a “tennis oficionado” who comes down from Sydney every year to watch the Open. I say, bad luck to the tournament!
Rafa, good afternoon from the Canaries, you´ar an Elegant Great Gentelman in and out of court, don´t pay attention to this woman without any education, better send her to school, if her parents didn´t tall her, how to behave, Get a friendly and sportly H U G, C. Javier
I thought that Rafa handled it it with grace and humour. She looked drunk and out of control. ” gin or tequila “!! She will have a very sick head! Rafa was serving quickly do shows how drunk she was.
Great to get the match over in 3. Well done Rafa.🇪🇸🌟
Hopefully she’ll be extremely embarrassed when she sobers up!
YES!
A true heart, and a great champion.
Very best of luck to bring home another trophy for the collection!
Love ya, stay well
xoxo 🙂
Well said Rafa👍❤️
Rafa was so cute as always and handled it just right. It is ironic that she was upset with his service routine, since I thought he was quicker than usual.
do I smell Nick?…..
She used Rafa to achieve her 15 minutes of fame. He handled it very well. Now let’s allow her to sink back into oblivion.
👍
Well Rafa he is a gentleman she is a a rude woman 👎👎
Illiterate yhoooo, what did our champion did to desedes this from a crazy ugly woman, gosh
Charming dismissal of a fool-“gin, tequila, strange, funny, poor girl”🤪 Way to roll. Hope the back issue is resolving👏💪👍🤛🍀❤️
Always the gentleman.
She should rather stay home and not exhibit her lack of manners in public
How cute was Rafa’s reaction to that rude woman ?