James Bray, the Sydney tennis fan who became a viral sensation for cheering on Emma Raducanu, found himself on the opposite side of the spotlight at the Australian Open on Friday.
Known for his infectious energy and green-and-gold singlet, Bray had previously captured hearts as he loudly supported Raducanu during her 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
But Friday night’s excitement ended in a police escort out of Rod Laver Arena.
The Rise of ‘Raddo’s’ Biggest Cheerleader
Bray first made headlines when Raducanu noticed him during her post-match interview, calling out her vocal supporter and jokingly inviting him to every match.
Fans loved the interaction, and Bray became an unofficial mascot of sorts, shouting encouragement across the court and spreading positive vibes.
For a while, it seemed like nothing could dampen his tennis enthusiasm.
Cheering Too Loudly Turns Troublesome
Friday night, however, Bray’s spirited support crossed a line in the eyes of Australian Open staff.
He was cheering for local star Alex de Minaur against American Frances Tiafoe, but staff considered his behavior too “rowdy.”
Police were called, and Bray was issued a directive to leave the venue for 24 hours along with a $700 fine.
Bray Chronicles the Ejection Online
True to form, Bray documented the entire ordeal on Instagram.
Laughing through the interaction, he explained to followers, “Kicked out of the Australian Open because I am a fan… Thank you very much.
I appreciate being kicked out for being a tennis fan.”
Videos showed him being escorted out by officers while maintaining a lighthearted, if slightly incredulous, tone.
Even outside the arena, Bray shared his disbelief: “I feel like everything was going well.
I was cheering him, not disrespectful… I wasn’t cheering in between double faults or serves.
I was just cheering like I would for any Australian player.”
He described the removal as “a bit of a weird one” and joked about security “strong-arming” him despite his peaceful intentions.
Tennis Australia Responds
A Tennis Australia spokesperson clarified that Bray had been warned multiple times before police were called.
“Security received a number of complaints from fans in Rod Laver Arena last night relating to disruptive behavior.
Despite multiple warnings, he refused to modify his behavior and continued to disrupt those around him,” the statement read.
Police were then involved to enforce the 24-hour directive, but Bray has not been banned from the tournament.
Victoria Police Highlights Crowd Management
Victoria Police also commented, noting that Bray was one of 21 people evicted for various behavioral or alcohol-related incidents.
“Overall, police have been extremely pleased with the crowd behavior at this year’s Australian Open and look forward to fans enjoying another exciting week,” a spokesperson said.
What’s Next for the Superfan
For now, Bray is temporarily sidelined from Melbourne Park, but his notoriety is unlikely to fade.
Whether he returns for the rest of the Australian Open or keeps his energy online, one thing is clear: his dedication to supporting tennis stars is as loud as ever, even if the venue asked him to take a short break.
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