MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning last nights 2022 Australian Open Men's Singles Final, at Government House on January 31, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Former tennis player Jamie Hampton slams Daniil Medvedev after comments about the crowd during his match against Rafael Nadal in AO 2022 Final
Former World No. 24 Jamie Hampton has defended new Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal after his win on Sunday in Melbourne. The American believes the World No. 5 has ‘no reason to be booed’ by the crowd. This was in the aftermath of Daniil Medvedev complaining of ‘boring’ crowd behaviour.
On Sunday, Nadal beat Medvedev in a 5-setter of the Australian Open final to break the all-time Grand Slam record.
“Rafa was branded the antagonist to Roger’s hero when people realized that he was going to be great.”
“He was openly accused of steroids, made fun of for what he wore, his routines, his fist-pumping, etc. and I can’t remember a single time he ever gave the crowd a reason to boo him,” Hampton said on Twitter.
“He went about his business, very rarely got into it with the umpires, and the crowd adores him now. I’m the last person to say a player has to behave perfectly, I don’t believe that at all. Players are free to behave how they want, but there are consequences,” she added.
Nadal made a return to the ATP Tour after a foot surgery and battling COVID-19. His return was seen as a tough draw to make it to the Championship match. Despite the draw, he managed to beat Canadian Dennis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini along the way. His win now takes him ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“Regardless of slam count and other numbers, all 3 are tremendous tennis players and athletes. let’s just try to enjoy the tennis while we can! when they’re over, all we will have are replays,” Hampton said.
Medvedev, meanwhile, was looking to win his second consecutive Grand Slam. The Russian won at Flushing Meadows to win his maiden Grand Slam. He has quickly risen to World No. 2 and now challenges Novak Djokovic for the top spot.
He will look to return to the Tour with ATP 500 events in Rotterdam and Dubai in February. Nadal, meanwhile, will look to take some time off after a gruelling schedule.
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