WATCH: HILARIOUS moment crying baby interrupts Nadal at CRITICAL point in Australian Open
A MATCH at the Australian Open had an unwelcome interruption as a baby began crying at a crucial moment as Rafael Nadal went to serve.
Crying baby distracts Nadal at crucial point in Australian Open
The quarter final match was halted for more than a minute at a tense moment as a baby began crying in the audience shortly after 10pm on Tuesday night.
The wailing interrupted Rafael Nadal’s serve during a third-set tiebreaker against Marin Cilic.
Initially persevering with the distraction, the game had to be paused for more than a minute when the crying intensified.
Commentator Jim Courier said: “'This is when a player wants a chair umpire to ask for the baby to be removed.
Nadal and Cilic looked around for the source of the commotion
What's a baby doing awake at ten o'clock at night anyway?
“Neither of these guys want to play with that.”
Courier added: "What's a baby doing awake at ten o'clock at night anyway?”
The incident and Courier’s comments had viewers divided, with many taking to social media to debate whether it was appropriate for a baby to be at the night session.
Some agreed with Courier’s comments.
Moment Nadal is forced to quit Australian Open against Cilic
Craig Platt tweeted: “Jim Courier is right: what is a baby doing at the tennis at 10pm at night? Parents have entitlement issues.”
Another user tweeted: “Call of the night by Jim Courier after a baby was crying in the crowd l“What is a baby still doing awake at 10pm”
But others criticised Courier for being insensitive. One user tweeted: “‘What’s a baby doing awake at 10 o’clock anyway?’ - haven’t spent much time around babies have you, Jim Courier?”
Another said: “Jim Courier just asked why a baby is awake at 10pm. Has he had babies??”
Nadal was forced to withdraw against Cilic due to a leg injury, giving up on his dreams of Australian Open glory in the process.
The 2009 winner retired in the fifth set while trailing 2-0 to the Croatian as the pain got too much for him to continue.