MELBOURNE (AP):

POLICE WERE forced to use pepper-spray to subdue three spectators and five were ejected from the grounds at the Australian Open yesterday.

A match between last year's finalist, Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, and Greece's Konstantinos Economidis was stopped for five minutes while police ejected the spectators, tournament officials and police said.

Police said those thrown out will be forced to stay away from Melbourne Park for 24 hours. If they are previous offenders, they will have to stay away longer.

Some of those ejected could be charged with assault, failing to obey police or using offensive language, Victoria Police Superintendent John Cooke said in a statement.

Last year, Serbian and Croatian fans clashed at the tournament, some using sticks and flag poles. Police and private security guards ejected about 150 spectators on the first day of the tournament.

Hundreds of Greek fans were at Melbourne Park earlier yesterday to watch Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, who was a losing finalist two years ago, win in four sets over Thomas Johansson of Sweden. There were no reports of trouble at that match.

Gonzalez, who won in straight sets, said the spirited behaviour yesterday by Chilean and Greek fans reminded him of a Davis Cup match.

"It was very noisy from both sides, but the police came in," said Gonzalez. "I don't know exactly what happened with them. I saw that they threw spray."