‘It’s not interesting today’: Rafa Nadal calls out sleeping journalist during press conference after Australian Open victory over James Duckworth
Rafael Nadal has poked fun at a journalist who appeared to fall asleep during his post-match press conference at the Australian Open on Monday.
To most, the return of Nadal was an exciting way to start the tournament, with the Spaniard returning to the biggest stage for the first time since last August.
For one journalist, though, it appeared to all be too much… but there was no way Nadal was going to let him get away with it.
Rafael Nadal chuckles after noticing that a journalist had fallen asleep in his press conference
Nadal poked fun at the sleeping man, joking that his words were ‘not interesting today’
Nadal then said: ‘I know, you were closing your eyes to be more focused on what I was saying’
While another journalist asked a question, Nadal spotted the sleeping man and began to laugh, prompting other people in the room to join in.
The Spaniard then caused more chuckles as he noted: ‘It’s not interesting today,’ which abruptly woke the journalist from his slumber.
‘I know, you were closing your eyes to be more focused on what I was saying,’ Nadal then continued, as he made light of the embarrassing situation.
Nadal was in high spirits as he put his long-term injury worries behind him with a convincing straight-sets victory over James Duckworth in Melbourne.
The Spaniard lets out a roar on his way to a straight sets win over Australian James Duckworth
Nadal plays a backhand shot during his first-round meeting with Duckworth in Melbourne
Nadal was back to his best on the Rod Laver Arena as he registered a straight sets victory
After an abdominal problem and ankle surgery ended his season early, he pulled out of the warm-up tournament in Brisbane last week with a minor thigh strain.
Nadal did not have things all his own way against Australian wild-card Duckworth, going a break down early in the second set and then being broken serving for the match, but he came through 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.
Nadal said in his on-court interview: ‘It’s not easy to come back after a lot of months, and especially against a player who’s super aggressive.
‘I’m very, very happy to be through.’