Tennis fan booted from Rod Laver Arena after flipping Rafael Nadal the bird

The woman who was hauled out of Rod Laver Arena for allegedly being drunk , flipping the bird and hurling abuse at Rafael Nadal has now compared him to a drug cheat.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 10: Nick Kyrgios of Australia gives his broken racket to fans after winning his Men's Singles second round match against Ugo Humbert of France during day three of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 10, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The woman who was hauled out of Rod Laver Arena for allegedly being drunk and for flipping the bird and hurling abuse at Rafael Nadal has doubled down on her crusade against the world No.2 – comparing him to drug cheat Lance Armstrong.

The woman, who Nadal said was “possibly drunk” after having a little too much gin or tequila, spoke on Melbourne’s 3AW Radio station after footage of her being escorted from the arena was beamed around the world following his second-round victory over American Michael Mmoh.

But rather than showing any contrition over her antics, other than admitting she’d embarrassed her daughter, she went on to say Nadal was “boring” and revealed his superstitious actions on the court were behind her decision to stick up her middle finger.

"He's boring... The fact pictures of me have gone viral show how boring he is," the woman said.

A fan has been BOOTED from the match for unsavoury language and flipping the bird to Rafael Nadal! 💥😂

Incredible scenes.

WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/7uAf53PWTv #9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/jgjv7b1GX2

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 11, 2021

“My daughter wasn't too happy. I just called out, ‘get over your OCD rituals’ and that's when I flicked him the bird."

She went on to cast doubts over Nadal’s talent and achievements by likening him to disgraced US cyclist Armstrong, who won seven Tour de France titles before being stripped of his records after being found to have been systemically using performance-enhancing drugs and engaging in blood doping.

Nadal has previously been forced to deny accusations of doping and fiercely maintains he’s never used performance enhancers to speed up his recoveries from injury.

But that hasn’t deterred his sparring partner from Thursday night.

"I have my doubts... Look at Lance Armstrong he also had a great record," the woman said, before being told that Nadal, unlike Armstrong, is not recognised as a cheat.

"Well, we don't know."

One caller to 3AW who was in the stadium described what she saw.

"She was very embarrassing," she said. "After she left we all started baracking for Nadal so she got the opposite of what she wanted. And she wasn't wearing a mask, the roof was closed.

Others in the stadium said the woman was stumbling and off balance as security escorted her out.

Nadal laughed about the situation on court and during his press conference afterwards.

"For me was funny (smiling)," he said. "Honestly, somebody doing the finger to me with, I don't know the reason, but was -- yeah. I was surprised, yes,but at the same time was thinking, poor girl.

"Probably she was drunk or something like this. I don't know."

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?

In what was a bizarre exchange during the world No.2’s second round match, play was stopped after a fan began loudly heckling Nadal from the stands.

As the TV cameras zeroed in on her, she raised her middle finger to flip Nadal the bird.

Nadal didn’t seem too concerned though. He had a big smile on his face and mouthed, “Me?”

The woman was then escorted from the court by security, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.

Strange delay on RLA with a lady disrupting play by making noises prior to Rafa serving..

I think the women is intoxicated but she put the rude finger up to Rafa as she was leaving... crazy

Weird scenes #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/yESX3neaog

— Jamie Muscatel (@JamieMuscatel) February 11, 2021

Nadal was asked about the exchange after the match by Aussie tennis great John Fitzgerald.

A woman in the crowd gives Rafael Nadal the bird. Picture: Getty Images

“Now there was someone in the crowd, you didn't know her, did you?” Fitzgerald said.

To which Nadal responded, “No, and honestly, I don't want to know.”

In the post-match press conference Nadal said he thought it was all funny.

“For me (it) was funny. Honestly, somebody doing the finger to me ... I don't know the reason, but ... yeah. I was surprised," he said.

“But at the same time was thinking, poor girl. Because probably she was drunk or something like this. I don't know.

The incident didn’t have any impact on his tennis. The 34-year-old defeated Michael Mmoh 6-1 6-4 6-2 to advance to the third round.

Originally published as Tennis fan booted from Rod Laver Arena after flipping Rafael Nadal the bird