A passionate tennis fan who gained online fame for supporting Emma Raducanu has been ejected from the Australian Open for disruptive behavior. James Bray, known for his vocal encouragement of Raducanu, was asked to leave after being deemed ‘too rowdy’ while cheering for another player at the Rod Laver Arena.
Bray, who sported an ‘Australia’ tank top during Raducanu’s match, received a special mention from the British tennis star, who dubbed him ‘Raddo’. Despite his newfound celebrity status, Bray’s enthusiastic support for Alex de Minaur during a match against Frances Tiafoe led to his removal from the venue.
He shared the incident on his Instagram story, capturing the moment police officers instructed him to leave the Australian Open for 24 hours and imposed a fine. Despite the situation, Bray sarcastically thanked the authorities for kicking him out for being a fan of the event.
As he was escorted out, Bray expressed mixed feelings, stating that he had paid for a ticket to support de Minaur and had not engaged in disrespectful behavior. Tennis Australia confirmed that Bray had received verbal warnings before his removal due to disruptive conduct.
Security and police were prompted to intervene following complaints from other fans about Bray’s behavior. Victoria Police reported that a total of 21 individuals were evicted from the tennis precinct for various incidents, with overall satisfaction regarding crowd behavior at the tournament.
Despite the incident, Bray remained upbeat, describing the experience as ‘quite fun’ as he documented his departure from the venue. The authorities reiterated the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful atmosphere at the Australian Open, emphasizing the expectation for fans to enjoy the event responsibly.