World number two Daniil Medvedev has hit out at what he called ‘empty brain’ fans after crowd noise disturbed his serve during the winner-takes-all showdown with Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open men’s singles final.
Medvedev, who has hit the headlines for a series of outspoken comments throughout the tournament in Melbourne, complained the chair umpire, Australian John Blom, that people creating disturbances between his first and second serves was distracting him.
“They are ridiculous,” a shirtless Medvedev told Blom in between the third and fourth sets, and after Nadal had rallied back after Medvedev claimed the decisive third set.
“No brain, huh? Empty brains,” he said.
He also appears to say: “Probably in their life it must be very bad, huh?“
Medvedev’s fractured relationship with the Melbourne masses was also evident when he sarcastically applauded the crowd after missing a shot at the net and was met with a chorus of jeers.
The Russian star has had repeated run-ins with the audience and fellow players throughout the tournament.