Anti-Israel protesters disrupted a tennis match between Israeli player Lina Glushko and Japanese champion Naomi Osaka in New Zealand on Monday, forcing the match to be paused twice in the first set.

The chants of “Free Palestine,” “Israel is a terror state,” and “Israel out” from outside the tennis court could be heard inside, as the demonstrators used microphones.

Organizers were unable to move the protesters, however, as they were on a public street.

Monday’s disruptions of the match came after Glushko saw incitement against her on social media in New Zealand over the last few days, according to the Ynet news site. The online attacks included references to pro-Israel posts she has made.

In the lead-up to the match, New Zealand’s media referred to it as a face-off between “Naomi Osaka and a former IDF soldier,” Channel 12 News reported on Monday.

Other delays in the match were caused by swirling wind on the court and a long break when Glushko had to leave for treatment for a hip injury.

Despite the disruptions, the match was close, with Osaka beating Glushko with a 6-4, 6-4 score.

Osaka broke Glushko in the third game of the first set and held comfortably to win 6-4.

The second set was tighter. Osaka broke Glushko in the third game but Glushko converted her only break point of the match to level at 2-2.

Glushko held to love in the seventh game to lead 4-3 but Osaka seemed to step up at that point, held with two aces for 4-4, broke for 5-4 and held serve to love to clinch the win.

After the match, Osaka praised Glushko, saying, “I think she’s a really amazing opponent. I’ve never played her before. It was good to have to scrap a little for the first round.”

Glushko is set to play again next week in the Australian Open’s qualifying rounds.