What happened to protester who heckled Alexander Zverev at Australian Open final

More details have emerged about what happened to the woman who yelled out in protest during the Australian Open trophy ceremony.

The protester who heckled Australian Open runner-up Alexander Zverev during the post-match presentation was reportedly “evicted” from Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night.

The 27-year-old is now 0-3 in grand slam finals after Jannik Sinner triumphed 6-3 7-6 6-3.

As Zverev prepared to give his runner-up speech at the Australian Open on Sunday night, a heckler in the crowd brought the trophy presentation to a standstill.

A woman yelled out “Australia believes Olga and Brenda” repeatedly before she was escorted out of Rod Laver Arena.

Zverev’s former partners Olga Sharypova and Brenda Patea, the mother of his child, have previously accused the German tennis star of domestic abuse. He has denied the allegations.

A case involving Zverev and Patea settled out of court in June last year with no admission of guilt.

It’s believed to be the first public protest at one of Zverev’s matches about the allegations.

According to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, the protester was escort out of Rod Laver Arena and was seen surrounded by several security guards inside the main entrance of the venue.

The woman told the American journalist she was being “evicted”.

Rothenberg, who has reportedly extensively on Zverev’s domestic violence allegations, wrote on his Bounces substack that he was repeatedly told by security to keep his distance.

A protester shouts about domestic violence during the ceremony for the men’s singles final. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

Zverev took a moment to compose himself and let the crowd noise die down before speaking.. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

A grand slam title remains elusive for Zverev. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

“An aggressive security guard, however, came between us and told me to back away,” he wrote.

“He told me to stop typing on my phone, and then repeatedly asked me to move further and further away from this woman, continually telling me to move further back metre by metre.

“He asked me repeatedly to leave the entrance area and return to the seating bowl, but I wanted to keep the woman in my eyeline until I knew what her fate would be.

“He also photographed my accreditation as well as the accreditation of another journalist who arrived a few minutes later, and reported my presence there to Tennis Australia.”

Rothenberg said two uniformed police officers arrived and spoke to the woman.

“After a few minutes of conversation, they gave her paperwork and escorted her out of the arena,” he said.

Victoria Police has confirmed to news.com.au that no spectators were arrested at Melbourne Park on Sunday night.

News.com.au has contacted Tennis Australia for comment.

The protester’s call out made for an awkward scene as Zverev paused for a minute before beginning to speak.

Germany's Alexander Zverev walks off the court with the runner-up trophy. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

The 27-year-old stood in silence and made no mention of the interruption when he took the microphone, but he was forced to react to the moment when the protest was brought up during his post-match press conference.

“I believe there have been no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now,” he said.

“Good for her. I think she was the only one in the stadium who believed anything in that moment. If that’s the case, good for her,” he continued.

He added: “I think I’ve done everything I can, I’m not about to open that subject again.”

The crowd overwhelming booed the protester, but there were some cheers.

Originally published as What happened to protester who heckled Alexander Zverev at Australian Open final