Australian Open: Fans fume over rowdy fans, day four schedule revealed after wild weather

Three boozed-up spectators have been booted from the Australian Open after targeting players with crude slurs — and some of the tournament’s biggest stars have had enough of crowd antics.

Rain and extreme heat have played havoc with scheduling. Picture: Anthony Wallace/AFP

Bartenders at Rod Laver Arena are told to serve drinks deep into the night so long as players are still serving inside as boozed-up spectators continue to heckle players at Melbourne Park.

Englishman Cameron Norrie was sledged by foul-mouthed louts before finally advancing to the Australian Open’s third round at 1.28am.

Rowdy punters sang: “You’re just a s*** Andy Murray” while one shouted: “You’re world No. 12 – show the c***”.

Norrie’s opponent, Frenchman Constant Lestienne, was also targeted.

Some punters sang: “Lestienne’s going home” and “Enger-land”.

Security booted out three noisy culprits who scuttled off with beer cans in their hands.

But Norrie claimed their boorish behaviour still travelled on to Court 13.

France’s Constant Lestienne blows up at fans in the crowd.

“They had the football chants going which was good fun, then obviously they got kicked out,” Norrie said.

“I could still hear them in the second set, like over here somewhere. But it was a great atmosphere.”

Lestienne was less than impressed and he refused to play at one point.

“Lestienne’s irritation is there for all to see, he is jabbering away at the umpire, and I don’t think he wants to be out there,” BBC commentator David Law said.

If you’ve got the money it’s not hard to get blotto at Melbourne Park. They serve full-strength beers, ciders and spirits for about $13.

Some outside bars are only staffed until 11pm although workers often complete overtime on their shifts.

Over on 1573 Arena – the court named after a Chinese distillery – Denis Shapovalov was angered during his straight-sets victory against Japan’s Taro Daniel.

“They don’t need to be doing that. They had a beer too much and now they’re like fooling around, you know?” Shapovalov told the chair umpire.

When Shapovalov’s complaint was interrupted he appeared to say: “Shut up” to the crowd.

“Shut up” he told a spectator as he complained to the chair umpire.

"They had a beer too much and now they're fooling around..." 🍻🤪

Denis Shapovalov tells a rowdy spectator to "shut up" 🤐#AusOpen | @denis_shapopic.twitter.com/lUUTKHWK92

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 18, 2023

“I understand, but it’s excessive,” Shapovalov then replied to the chair umpire.

The boozy breaks in play come after two warnings on crowd behaviour from Tennis Australia.

Last week tournament organisers banned fans from booing unvaccinated ace Novak Djokovic and on Tuesday they issued a snap ban on Russian and Belarusian flags, as well as clothing portraying the letter ‘Z’, which has become the symbol of the war in Russia.

Only hours after the flag ban was issued a Russian flag was waved – and then removed – during Andrey Rublev’s match on John Cain Arena.

Russia’s embassy in Australia hit back calling the ban “another example of unacceptable politicisation of sports”.

“On top of already discriminating against Russian tennis players with its ‘neutral flag policy’, Tennis Australia now went further by making sure they cannot be visibly supported by their fans.”

But back on the booze and it’s far from the first time alcohol and the Australian Open have not mixed.

Last year Nick Kyrgios yelled: “get the f*** out” after opponent Max Purcell complained about an unruly spectator at the men’s doubles final.

Security moved on the spectator and the chair umpire issued another warning.

These 2 videos show the moment when that drunk lady was kicked out from RLA 🇦🇺#AusOpen#AO2021pic.twitter.com/sewxzF6KY8

— Erlita ⭐️®️⭐️ (@Rafaerl_ita) February 11, 2021

“Ladies and gentlemen, I think everybody is enjoying the match so please, one or two spectators are totally ruining the game by screaming,” the umpire said.

Then, in the Wimbledon final last year, Kyrgios took aim at one spectator in particular.

Asked by the umpire to identify the fan, Kyrgios said: “The one with the dress, the one who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks, bro!”

Two years ago at Rod Laver Arena woman flipped the bird at Rafael Nadal and yelled out before he was ready to serve.

The woman flipped Nadal the bird then very next point, again yelled out just before he was ready to serve.

Security booted the woman, who was sitting in front of a Spanish flag, although Nadal was able to see the funny side.

“No,” Nadal laughed after the match when asked if he knew the woman.

“And honestly I don’t want to know.”

Last year’s mask mandate also got ugly as a fight broke out between fans.

Another anti-mask spectator was ejected by police from Rod Laver Arena during Alexander Zverev’s match after chanting “masks don’t work”.

HOW AUS OPEN WILL HANDLE SCHEDULING NIGHTMARE

Players have been left frustrated after a second day of unplayable outside playing conditions in Melbourne left them stranded for hours waiting for courts on Wednesday.

As all eyes turn to day four and the last day of second round singles, here are the big names and the Aussie favourites to check out on the four main courts at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

‘REALLY BAD’: PLAYERS TORCH AO OFFICIALS OVER SCHEDULING SNUB

Players were forced to wait hours at Melbourne Park for a second day as wild Melbourne weather only compounded the Australian Open’s scheduling headache.

Play on outside courts was delayed every half-hour until 5pm which only increased the backlog of matches, some of which had already been held over from Tuesday due to heat and rain delays.

The vast number of doubles matches scheduled for Wednesday afternoon were cancelled, while extra day match slots were added to the three Melbourne Park stadiums that have enclosed roofs.

No. 6 seed Maria Sakkari said she had sympathy for players caught up in the holding pattern, knowing all too well how they would be feeling.

“Of course they are very unlucky,” she said.

”It’s just, you know, pure bad luck, I would say.

“Obviously it’s not easy just to stay here the entire day and it’s very tiring and very draining. “Before I got to that level and having the privilege and the chance to play on the big courts and just under the roof, I have been there a lot of times. It might happen again that I will have to hang around the entire day because of the weather.

Rain and extreme heat have played havoc with scheduling. Picture: Anthony Wallace/AFP

“It’s not pleasant, for sure, but you cannot control that. You cannot control the weather, unfortunately.”

Top doubles player and brother of Australian Open marathon man Andy Murray lashed the scheduling process in the face of the “crap” weather.

“11am start on outside courts. Players arrive approx 8-830am,” Jamie Murray wrote on Twitter after holdups to the doubles schedule.

“Schedule released 11.30pm (on Tuesday night). Unfair.

“On top of that the weather is crap. Just start matches later and give players more rest/prep time. You have lights!”

Everybody knew the forecast was to rain all morning. If you can’t release a schedule until 0030 and majority of players go to bed not knowing if they’re playing or not - why would you decide to start matches at 11am?

— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) January 18, 2023

11am start on outside courts.
Players arrive approx 8-830am
Schedule released 1130pm
Unfair.

On top of that the weather is crap. Just start matches later and give players more rest/prep time. You have lights!#ausopen

— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) January 17, 2023

It is understood doubles games will continue to be postponed to later days to keep the singles draws on track should delays continue.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek said it was “really bad for the players” who were forced to hang around at the grand slam as they desperately waited for the poor weather to pass.

“It’s really tiring, and they probably are going to have to stay another day on-site,” Swiatek said.

“There’s nothing I think the tournament organisers can do, but I’m surprised that they didn’t put yesterday’s matches, like, earlier today on the stadiums, but I don’t know how it works, honestly.

“Maybe they have like TV rights to put, I don’t know, seeded players or whatever on the stadiums.”

American Jessica Pegula — ranked third — said players “are pretty adaptable” to what mother nature throws their way.

“Obviously it’s never ideal,” she said.

“But whenever you can handle it the best, that can help a lot with your confidence as well.”

Originally published as Australian Open: Fans fume over rowdy fans, day four schedule revealed after wild weather