The U.S. Open, one of the most prestigious events in the tennis world, faced an unexpected disruption on September 7 as climate change protesters briefly halted play during a match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City.
The unexpected pause occurred at 8:05 p.m. ET during the highly anticipated Coco Gauff vs. Karolina Muchova match when a group of protesters began shouting about climate change. The demonstrators were easily identifiable, sporting shirts emblazoned with the slogan "End Fossil Fuels."
One of the protesters took their protest to another level, reportedly gluing their feet to the concrete floor of the stadium, causing a significant delay in the match.
The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) promptly issued a statement acknowledging the interruption, stating;
"Following the first game of the second set in the Gauff-Muchova match, play was halted due to a protest conducted by four spectators. Three of the four protesters were escorted out of the stadium without further incident. The fourth protester affixed their bare feet to the floor of the seating bowl. Due to the nature of this action, NYPD and medical personnel were needed in order to safely remove this individual from the stadium."
Law enforcement authorities acted swiftly, taking the four protesters into custody, and ensuring that the disruption was resolved as swiftly as possible.
The interruption was relatively brief, lasting approximately 49 minutes, and play eventually resumed to the delight of tennis enthusiasts in attendance.
This incident occurred just days after another controversial incident at the U.S. Open when a spectator was ejected from the tournament for making offensive remarks. German player Alexander Zverev accused the individual of quoting a phrase associated with Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.
Zverev immediately reported the offensive comment to the umpire, saying;
"He said the most famous Hitler phrase to me. He just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is in this world. It's unacceptable. This is unbelievable."
In response, chair umpire James Keothavong took action, addressing the crowd to identify the person responsible.
"Put your hand up. Who said that? Who said that? Who said that? We are going to get him out," James Keothavong stated.
Security officials swiftly removed the individual from the arena, much to the approval of the crowd, which erupted in cheers as the spectator was escorted out.
These incidents serve as a reminder that major sporting events are not immune to various forms of protest and controversy, even as athletes and organizers strive to keep the focus on the sport itself.
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