During a match at the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal was about to serve when a fan in the crowd loudly interrupted him. She yelled at him, mocked his pre-serve rituals, and then flipped him off. Nadal stopped, looked up confused, and asked what was going on. The woman doubled down and gave him another middle finger. Nadal laughed it off, and the crowd quickly got behind him, chanting and encouraging him to continue. He played along, smiling and putting on a mini show to keep the mood light.
Security escorted the woman out, but before leaving, she threw in a final insult and another finger. Later, she appeared on an Australian radio show, where she said she’s not a fan of Nadal and called him boring. She criticized his habits on court and claimed she got attention only because his matches are dull. She insisted she was just calling out his behavior and followed it up with the gesture when he looked her way.
Despite the interruption, Nadal kept things light and professional. His reaction turned an awkward moment into something the crowd could enjoy. The fan tried to explain herself, but few were on her side. Her timing may have been bold, but Nadal and the spectators handled it better than she did.