VIDEO-Australian Open booing: Crowd slammed at Novak Djokovic final | 7NEWS.com.au

The Deputy Prime Minister and an Aussie tennis champion have led a chorus of criticism towards the “disgraceful” fans who booed the mention of COVID-19 vaccines after the Australian Open final.

Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka was forced to halt her speech when an attempt to shine a light on the “optimism and hope for the future” was jeered by sections of the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

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The first of Australia’s coronavirus vaccines were administered on Sunday morning and the rollout will begin with at-risk people and workers.

“It’s been a time of heartfelt challenge. It’s been a time of deep loss and extraordinary sacrifice for everyone,” Hrdlicka said.

“With vaccinations on the way, rolling out in many countries around the world, it’s now a time for optimism and hope for the future.”

Boos rang around the stadium from a vocal minority of the 7426 fans who witnessed Novak Djokovic win his ninth Australian Open title.

The Serbian infamously earned the reputation of tennis’s leading super-spreader when he hosted an exhibition tour in June last year with few precautions or social distancing.

Djokovic, his wife Jelena, coach Goran Ivanisevic and multiple players who took part all tested positive for COVID-19 during the tour or after it was shut down.

Djokovic, who had said months earlier that he opposed the coronavirus vaccine, did not directly address the booing but showed some frustration with his fans’ overall behaviour.

“I am very grateful for the great support I got tonight. Sometimes they did step over the line, I must say,” he said with the trophy in his hands.

The boos that rained down during Hrdlicka’s speech were roundly criticised, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack saying it was “rather disgusting behaviour” that was “un-Australian”.

Hrdlicka was jeered again when she thanked the Victorian government, which pushed on with the Australian Open on a four-week delay after over a thousand players, coaches and officials agreed to enter quarantine.

The tournament was also permitted to continue during the state’s snap five-day lockdown - a concession not granted to professional sport in last year’s lengthy lockdown period.

But fans choosing to ignore their own hypocrisy, or otherwise oblivious to the government’s desperation to host the tournament, booed and forced an exasperated Hrdlicka into silence again.

“When you’re finished,” she said before continuing.

“You are a very opinionated group of people but whether you’re at home or here tonight, we’re really thankful that you’re here. And we look forward to seeing you next year.”

Earlier in the night, two ticketholders were ejected after standing and shouting ‘free the refugees’ during a point.

Runner-up Daniil Medvedev was also forced to intervene in the final game of the match after Djokovic fans routinely shouted and whistled during his service motion.

“Show some respect,” Medvedev said.

The chair umpire also asked the crowd to “please keep it fair”.

The tournament finished with an aggregate attendance of 130,374 - well down on last year, when the 800,000 mark was cracked for the first time.