Daniil Medvedev has endured a difficult relationship with the crowd at this year'sAustralian Open .- That continued during the final when he labelled fans "idiots" with "no brains" after being jeered.
Daniil Medvedev's feud with the Australian Open crowd continued as he branded them "idiots" with "empty brains" during his defeat to
Nadal came back from two sets down to beat the Russian 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a thrilling affair at the Rod Laver Arena.
The crowd in Melbourne was largely in support of Nadal, and it was obvious to see and hear while watching the match.
Nadal's winning shots were cheered loudly by almost all fans, while celebrations of Medvedev's successes were more muted, and he was subjected to sporadic jeers throughout the five-hour-long epic.
The world number two was also occasionally shouted at before his first and second serves, for which chair umpire John Blom warned the crowd.
After conceding the third set, a furious Medvedev made his feelings about his treatment clear to Blom.
"They are idiots. No brains, empty brains," he said. "Probably in their life, it must be very bad."
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In his post-match press conference, Medvedev again hit out at the crowd, calling them "disrespectful" and suggesting he was treated in such a way because of his nationality.
"Before Rafa serves, even in the fifth set, there would be somebody, and I would even be surprised, like one guy screaming, 'C'mon, Daniil,'" he said.
"[But] a thousand people would be like, 'Tsss, tsss, tsss.' That sound. It's disappointing. It's disrespectful. I'm not sure after 30 years I'm going to want to play
"I remember there was a lot of talk, 'Young generation should do better.' I guess these people were lying because, every time I stepped on the court in these big matches, I really didn't see much people who wanted me to win. It's cumulative. But tonight was like the top of the mountain."
Asked whether he thought his treatment by the crowd was influenced by his nationality, the Russian said: "I think nationality plays a key. I can definitely see when you playing somebody from the other country, they would go for them and not for Russian, or something like this.
"I feel there is a lot more buzz about tennis in Russia right now. Hopefully we'll try to get more people to go for us."
Medvedev has had numerous run-ins with the crowd in Melbourne this year.
After knocking out Nick Kyrgios in the second round, the 25-year-old clashed angrily with those in the stands after he mistakenly thought they were jeering him.
Throughout the match, fans could regularly be heard shouting Cristiano Ronaldo's famous goal celebration "SIUUU" – which Medvedev mistook for boos.
After beating Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals, Medvedev was then jeered after saying he wouldn't watch the women's Australian Open final, which featured Australia's Ashleigh Barty, due to his dinner plans.
"I'm usually going to dinner at 8:15 p.m., so I'm gonna watch the beginning of the match, " Medvedev told interviewer and former world number one Jim Courier.
"Come on, man," Courier said in response. "I'm trying to set you up to win this crowd over and you're just kicking it."