A masked protester disrupted the Australian Open fourth-round tie on Monday between Cameron Norrie and Alexander Zverev by throwing ‘Free Palestine‘ leaflets onto the court. 

The protester’s pamphlets were quickly swept up by on-court officials but it was left to two fans seated near the protest to escort them out of the Margaret Court Arena.

The British No 1 was on serve in the third set, and preparing to win his game with advantage to make it 4-2.

But both Zverev and Norrie were forced to stop and wait for the protest – which took place behind the German No 6 seed – to be cleared up at the back out of the court. 

Those present in the arena claimed that security had been slow to intervene, with the Independent reporting that after the protester was ejected, the stadium burst into applause. 

A protester hurled flyers in support of a 'Free Palestine' during Cameron Norrie's match on Monday in Melbourne

A protester hurled flyers in support of a 'Free Palestine' during Cameron Norrie's match on Monday in Melbourne

A protester hurled flyers in support of a ‘Free Palestine’ during Cameron Norrie’s match on Monday in Melbourne

Staff stooped to clear the leaflets off the court during a forced break in play on Margaret Court

Staff stooped to clear the leaflets off the court during a forced break in play on Margaret Court

Staff stooped to clear the leaflets off the court during a forced break in play on Margaret Court

Norrie - preparing to serve for the game - looked baffled by the disruption on the show court

Norrie - preparing to serve for the game - looked baffled by the disruption on the show court

Norrie – preparing to serve for the game – looked baffled by the disruption on the show court 

His opponent Alexander Zverev watched as the leaflets fell to the back of the court mid-match

His opponent Alexander Zverev watched as the leaflets fell to the back of the court mid-match

His opponent Alexander Zverev watched as the leaflets fell to the back of the court mid-match

The leaflets appeared to highlight ‘war crimes and genocide’ and carried the slogan ‘Free Palestine’ in a bid to raise awareness to the roiling conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. 

‘While you’re watching tennis, bombs are dropping on Gaza,’ the pamphlet read. 

‘Australia is a close ally of Israel. Australia is complicit in war crimes and genocide’.  

Monday’s demonstration during the grand slam’s quarter-final marks the latest attempt to use tennis’ biggest platform – the majors – as a place to stage protests. 

In July, Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted matches at Wimbledon, with Norrie’s compatriot Katie Boulter also falling victim to an unexpected delay. 

Rather than wait for security, tennis fans were quick to attempt to escort the protester out

Rather than wait for security, tennis fans were quick to attempt to escort the protester out

Rather than wait for security, tennis fans were quick to attempt to escort the protester out

The demonstrator was taken up the stairs and out of the arena by two fans who pounced

The demonstrator was taken up the stairs and out of the arena by two fans who pounced

The demonstrator was taken up the stairs and out of the arena by two fans who pounced

Around the stadium fans took the opportunity to focus on the drama rather than the tennis

Around the stadium fans took the opportunity to focus on the drama rather than the tennis

Around the stadium fans took the opportunity to focus on the drama rather than the tennis

Group member Willian John Ward ran onto Court 18 during Boulter’s clash with Daria Saville and flung orange confetti onto the hallowed grass. 

The protester had swerved numerous security checks put on in a bid to derail protest attempts by bringing in the confetti in a Wimbledon jigsaw puzzle box. 

Grigor Dimitrov’s match against Sho Shumabukuro’s match had also been disrupted earlier in the day in a similar protest, but due to the use of ticker tape rather than the group’s trademark orange dust, play was able to resume in both matches promptly. 

Speaking after the protest, Mr Ward said: ‘I don’t like making a racket, but I don’t want my grandchildren, nieces and nephews to suffer. Right now, millions of people are being forced outside of the conditions necessary to support human life.’

Last year's Wimbledon was also interrupted by protesters from Just Stop Oil, who flung orange confetti on Court 18

Last year's Wimbledon was also interrupted by protesters from Just Stop Oil, who flung orange confetti on Court 18

Last year’s Wimbledon was also interrupted by protesters from Just Stop Oil, who flung orange confetti on Court 18 

Britain's Katie Boulter was seen helping the ball boys and girls pick up orange confetti that had been thrown onto the floor

Britain's Katie Boulter was seen helping the ball boys and girls pick up orange confetti that had been thrown onto the floor

Britain’s Katie Boulter was seen helping the ball boys and girls pick up orange confetti that had been thrown onto the floor

After being escorted off the court, Ward was later arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage. 

The grounds looked to combat future – or inspired – protests in a similar fashion by banning the sale of souvenir jigsaws at the official Wimbledon shop.  

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