Tennis fans slammed for booing mention of Covid-19 vaccine

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 21: A general view of Rod Laver Arena during the Men’s Singles Final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Daniil Medvedev of Russia during day 14 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 21, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 21: A general view of Rod Laver Arena during the Men’s Singles Final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Daniil Medvedev of Russia. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images) (Andy Cheung via Getty Images)

Australia’s government labelled the crowd at the Australian Open final “disgusting” after fans booed at the mention of the country’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Tennis Australia’s president Jayne Hrdlicka faced a hostile crowd, forcing her to stop her speech after she talked about “hope and optimism” from the vaccine rollout.

Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack called the crowd’s behaviour “disgusting” and “un-Australian”.

“I don’t like booing at any event, and certainly any sporting event,” he told reporters.

“This vaccine is going to get our country back to some sort of pre-Covid normality,” he added.

The controversy came after Novak Djokovic continued his dominance of the Australian Open by overwhelming Daniil Medvedev to win a record-extending ninth men's title in Melbourne.

Advertisement