Australian Open protesters vow to interrupt more events

Protesters who interrupted the Australian Open men's final will strike again at major international events hosted in Australia, they said on Monday.

Karoline Morwitzer, one of two women arrested for entering the court during the second set of Sunday's match, apologized to players Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray and the crowd but confirmed to the Daily Mail Australia she would not hesitate to repeat her antics.

"This issue was bigger than the tennis, bigger than Rod Laver Arena and something we felt every person in Australia better be thinking critically and consciously about," she said on Monday.

"I would say to the players - as well to all the tennis heads - I send an apology to them but reiterate that this issue is bigger than the tennis game."

Morwitzer, 32, and a 28-year-old accomplice invaded the court during a change of ends while six others remained in the stands to unveil a banner protesting the Manus Island immigration detention center, an offshore asylum processing facility located in Papua New Guinea operated on behalf of the Australian Government.

Security personnel protected the two players while guards and police quickly removed the protesters and the "Australia Open for Refugees" banner.

Play was halted for five minutes and, while some in the crowd applauded the banner when it was first unfurled, their tone markedly changed when another of the group made a second attempt to interrupt proceedings.

"We have created this international media spectacle today to expose the torture, abuse, and horrific conditions that are being perpetrated on Manus Island," the group told Special Broadcasting Service on Sunday.

The policy of detaining asylum seekers offshore to deter further immigration has been criticized by several human rights groups.

Morwitzer avoided questions about the total cost of the protest.

Tickets for the final started at 300 U.S. dollars. Endi