Sunday November 24, 2024

Zverev match in Melbourne interrupted by ´Free Palestine´ protest

Published : 23 Jan 2024, 00:05

  DF News Desk
German tennis player Alexander Zverev in action against UK's Cameron Norrie during their men's singles fourth round tennis match of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP/dpa.

Germany's Alexander Zverev reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the third time after a battling 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (10-3) win on Monday over Britain's Cameron Norrie, reported dpa.

The Olympic champion can continue to dream of a first Grand Slam title of his career after prevailing in the four hour epic.

The sixth seed converted his first match point in the match tiebreak as Norrie, seeded 19, wilted on Margaret Court Arena.

Zverev will now face Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz from Spain or Miomir Kecmanovic from Serbia on Wednesday.

The match was briefly interrupted due to a spectator protest.

In the middle of the third set, a fan threw flyers onto the court which read "Free Palestine."

Two other spectators dragged the protester out of the arena as no stewards intervened. The match was able to continue after a few minutes.

On their return to the stadium, the two spectators received loud applause from the other court-side fans.