Rafael Nadal on Thursday defeated American Michael Mmoh in live reports to advance to the third round of the Australian Open, but not before his match was interrupted by a riotous heckler who was eventually escorted by escort security.
After Nadal took the first set 6-1, he was serving for the second set at 5-4 when a woman started screaming.
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It’s not clear what exactly she was screaming about, but the more than 21,000 fans who attended Rod Laver Arena yelled at her, and then slung her middle finger up – apparently in the direction of the 20-time Grand Slam -champion.
Nadal was at first unhappy about the disruption and started laughing after seeing the woman’s unkind gesture, and even pointed to himself to ask, “Who, me?”
Safety advised the woman to sit down, but just as Nadal was going to serve, she screamed again, this time a clear obscenity.
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Nadal, still amused and confused about the situation, could not help laughing when the woman was finally escorted out of the stadium.
He shakes off the disruption and strikes two baits to round off the set.
Nadal defeated the 177th Mmoh in one hour, 47 minutes in live reports, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
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He said after the match that it was a “positive evening” despite the disruption, and when asked if he knew the woman – given how personally she was offended – he said he did not know her and wants to know. “
He tackles Cameron Norrie of the UK in the fourth round on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.