A tennis enthusiast who gained online fame for supporting Emma Raducanu has been ejected from the Australian Open for disruptive behavior. James Bray caught attention when Raducanu acknowledged him after her match victory. Throughout the game, Bray, donning an ‘Australia’ tank top, affectionately referred to Raducanu as ‘Raddo’. The tennis star later expressed gratitude for his unwavering support and invited him to all her future matches.
Despite this newfound celebrity status, Bray’s exuberance led to his removal from the Rod Laver Arena during a match between Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe. Bray’s enthusiastic cheering was deemed too disruptive, resulting in his expulsion from the event. He documented the incident on Instagram, showing police officers instructing him to leave for 24 hours and issuing him a fine.
As he was escorted out, Bray sarcastically remarked on being ejected for merely being a fan. Despite the situation, he found the experience somewhat amusing. Bray expressed disappointment over the situation, feeling unfairly treated for showing support like any other fan would. Tennis Australia confirmed that Bray had received verbal warnings before being asked to leave due to disruptive behavior.
Victoria Police mentioned that 21 people were removed from the tournament grounds for various incidents, including alcohol-related issues. However, overall, they were pleased with the crowd behavior at the Australian Open and looked forward to a successful remainder of the event.
