Australian Open chaos as umpire chases after fan for stealing player's towel

17 January 2023 , 11:00

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Umpire James Keothavong chased a fan who stole a towel at the Australian Open (Image: Eurosport)

There were bizarre scenes at the Australian Open when umpire James Keothavong chased a fan after noticing a towel had been stolen following a first round match between Lin Zhu and Rebecca Marino.

After Lin won the match 6-2 6-4, she and Marino shook hands before walking over to the umpire's chair. However, chaos then ensued after Marino spotted a fan stealing one of Lin's towels.

"Somebody just took your towel," she told her opponent, prompting Keothavong to shout "oi" and "wait" as he climbed down from his chair and proceeded to give chase. The umpire ultimately left the court as he chased after the fan and it is unclear whether or not he caught up with them.

Lin will now take on Jil Teichmann in the second round after she beat Britain's Harriet Dart 7-5 6-1 and neither Lin or Teichmann have ever made it past the tournament's second round before.

Elsewhere on the British front, Andy Murray secured a stunning five-set win over 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini to book his place in the next round.

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Murray beat a top 20 player at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017, defeating Berrettini 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-7 (7) 7-6 (6) after four hours and 49 minutes. "I'll be feeling this this evening and tomorrow but right now I'm just unbelievably happy and very proud of myself," Murray said after his win.

"I've put a lot of work into the last three months with my team, to give me the opportunity to perform in stadiums like this and matches like this and it paid off tonight.

Lin Zhu appeared to have one of her towels stolen after beating Rebecca Marino in the first round of the Australian Open (PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

"That's the first time I've ever played one of those 10-point tie-breakers and it's a bit different. He came back really strong and I was a bit lucky at the end with the net-cord.

"He was serving unbelievably and he's a brilliant competitor as well, he always fights right to the end. I did well to get through."

Matthew Cooper