At the Australian Open, the spotlight was stolen not by a tennis titan, but by an audacious avian, a seagull that clearly relished its moment of fame. The bird made a startling entrance during the high-stakes match between pros, Dominic Thiem and Felix Auger-Aliassime, at the Margaret Court Arena.
As Auger-Aliassime prepared his second serve, the gutsy gull sauntered onto the court. The match paused momentarily as a brave ball girl ushered the feathered intruder off the court. But our feathery friend was not done. It swooped back into the action, flying about the court and causing much laughter among the crowd.
But why stop at one match? The audacious bird, perhaps fancying itself a tennis connoisseur, gatecrashed another game. This time, it was Jan-Lennard Struff and Rinky Hijikata who had to pause their match point proceedings to accommodate the unexpected guest.
The humorous incidents left tennis fans worldwide in stitches. Social media was abuzz with quips and comments about the bird’s antics. “She’s the main star,” declared one fan on Twitter. Another joked, “Now isn’t a great time, mate…”, referencing the bird’s impeccable timing.
Whether it was a genuine love for the sport or a well-planned publicity stunt, the seagull certainly made its mark. As we bid adieu to our feathered friend, we can’t help but wonder where it’ll appear next. One thing’s for sure: this birdie has served up some unforgettable Australian Open memories.
