Australian Open 2021 – Rafael Nadal all smiles as woman ejected for heckling during his serve

Updated 11/02/2021 at 14:45 GMT

Rafael Nadal had two opponents during his Australian Open second round match: tennis player Michael Mmoh and an abusive spectator. The Spaniard laughed off the abuse as the woman was ejected from the stands on Rod Laver Arena to the delight of her fellow fans. Nadal progressed to the third round with a 6-1 6-4 6-2 victory over Mmoh.

Rafael Nadal of Spain laughs at a spectator in his Men's Singles second round match against Michael Mmoh of the United States during day four of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park

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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 Nadal went through his service routine, then aimed a middle-finger gesture at the court after being reprimanded by the umpire.

“You’re delaying everything”, said the umpire at one point.

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Nadal was quizzed about the amusing incident during his post-match interview.

Asked if he knew the woman in question, he simply replied: "No, and honestly I don’t want to know!”

He then said in a separate interview: "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.”

A fan yells out abuse at Rafael Nadal of Spain during his Men's Singles second round match against Michael Mmoh of the United States during day four of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park

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Nadal took it all in his stride with a huge grin, at one stage doing keepie-uppies as he waited for the ruckus to settle down.

Eventually, the woman was led away to rapturous applause from her fellow spectators.

A fan yells out abuse at Rafael Nadal of Spain during his Men's Singles second round match against Michael Mmoh of the United States during day four of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park

Image credit: Getty Images

It was later reported that she was shouting insults to Nadal after taking offence at the length of his service routine.

A spectator is asked to leave by security as Rafael Nadal of Spain plays his Men's Singles second round match against Michael Mmoh of the United States during day four of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park o

Image credit: Getty Images

Asked if he knew the woman in question in his post-match interview, he simply replied: "No, and honestly I don’t want to know!”

He then said in a separate interview: "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.