Croat, Serb Fans Ejected After Brawls

150 fans were ejected from the Australian Open on Monday after Croatian and Serbian supporters were involved in brawls at the tournament.

About 150 tennis fans were ejected from the Australian Open on Monday after Croatian and Serbian supporters were involved in brawls at the tournament.

Police said "unfamily like behaviour" by spectators in the public garden area of the venue prompted police to take a "proactive stance" and eject the fans.

The fighting started after spectators exchanged insults during the first-round match between Croatian Mario Ancic and Japan's Go Soeda on the first day of the two-week tournament. There were no arrests.

"They were mostly Serbians ejected as they were upsetting the Croatians," said Victoria state police spokeswoman Katherine Jess. "Police are now meeting with Tennis Australia officials to work out the next move."

Tennis Australia said it was happy with the way the situation had been handled.

"Fans in national colours have always been a welcome feature of the tournament," Tennis Australia chief executive officer Steve Wood said in a statement.

"However, if behaviour by individual fans or groups starts to actively interfere with the enjoyment of others, we have established processes in place to step in.

"The venue staff here are highly experienced in this area and acted swiftly, in conjunction with the police, to control the situation and to escort the troublemakers off site without further incident."

One witness, who did not give his name, said the two groups clashed just outside the main tennis arena at Melbourne Park.

"The Serbs were chanting against the Croatians, the Croatians were chanting against the Serbs and it all got out of hand," he told Australian radio.

Serb Ilia Bozoljac plays Croatian Marin Cilic in a first-round match on Tuesday.

Reuters