Protester dragged from court during Nadal, Medvedev Australian Open final

A protester has jumped from the crowd onto the court during the Australian Open men’s final, with video capturing the moment unfold.

A protester has jumped onto the court during the Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev’s men’s final at the Australian Open. Picture: Michael Klein

A protester has jumped down from the crowd and onto the court at Rod Laver Arena during the Australian Open men’s final between Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal.

The young woman ran along the ledge that separates the court and crowd during the second set on Sunday night, before jumping down onto the court.

Security surrounded the players, and along with police rushed to the protester and dragged them off the court.

Someone from the crowd has jumped onto the court during the second set of the men’s final between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev at #[e-mail]/8rAlNexm13

— Chantelle Francis (@Chantelle_Fran) January 30, 2022

The court invader at the #AusOpen final appears to have been protesting against refugee detention in Australia. pic.twitter.com/dkhJ8btof2

— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) January 30, 2022

The woman appeared to have been protesting refugee detention in Australia.

Pictures show she didn’t land the jump, estimated to be about a few metres high, and held a banner with the words “refugee detention”. The full message on the banner cannot be seen.

The crowd clapped and cheered when the woman was removed.

Victoria Police told news.com.au a 19-year-old woman “accessed the competition space at the Australian Open” on Saturday at about 9.15pm and was escorted from the venue. Police said the patron is expected to be charged on summons with disrupting the event.

A protester jumped onto the court, falling to the ground, behind Daniil Medvedev. Picture: Michael Klein

Security rushed to grab the protester and surround the players. Picture: Michael Klein

Police then dragged them off the court as the crowd watched on. Picture: Michael Klein

It comes after unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa saga, and short time in detention, drew attention to refugees and asylum seekers trapped in Australia’s hard line immigration system.

Djokovic was transferred to the former Park Hotel, now officially known as an “alternative place of detention”, while the Federal Court heard an appeal about the cancellation of his visa earlier this month.

The world no. 1 was eventually deported and unable to play in the Australian Open.

An asylum seeker being held in the same hotel as Djokovic had been described parts of his eight-year ordeal as “horrific”.

In an interview with news.com.au’s podcast I’ve Got News For You, Adnan Choopani, 23, explained he was still living in detention despite being recognised as a refugee more than five years ago.

Mr Choopani said some of his friends had set themselves on fire, one died after doing this, and another one who suffered burns to around 40-50 per cent of his body was still in detention with them at the Park Hotel in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton.

A group of protesters gathered outside the hotel when Djokovic was held there, chanting “refugees are welcome here, Djokovic is not”.