Watch: Furious Nick Kyrgios gets fan ejected from Australian Open final
Nick Kyrgios rallied behind his opponents to help get a rowdy supporter ejected from the Australian Open doubles final as opponent Matthew Ebden claimed it was “the naughtiest crowd he’s ever played in front of.”
Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios beat Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in an all Australian ‘Happy Slam’ doubles final, however Purcell and Ebden were distracted during the second set when a spectator shouted mid-serve.
Ebden and Purcell complained to the chair umpire Damien Dumusois, who requested on multiple occasions that spectators not shout before serves. Dumusois went as far as to say “some people are ruining the game.”
The disruptions persisted and with just a few games left in the match Kyrgios demanded security officers remove one offender. The security guards obliged and the unruly spectator and his friends were then removed from the stadium, to cheers from fellow spectators.
In his post-match press conference, a conflicted-sounding Purcell said “it seemed like the naughtiest crowd I’ve ever played in front of.
“Even Thanasi and Nick were getting a little angry at them, and with someone getting thrown out.
“Obviously there’s a line you don’t want to cross. I think it was great for ticket sales here but I’m not so sure how it was taken overseas.
“If you’re watching some of Nick and Thanasi’s matches earlier in the week and you’re overseas, maybe you get turned off tennis a little bit.”
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Unruly fan BOOTED from Arena after players get fed up! ?♂️#AusOpen – live on Channel 9 and 9Now. Ad-Free Live & On Demand on Stan Sport pic.twitter.com/IAlgskY050
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 29, 2022
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