Glued to the stands: Environmental activists shut down the US Open

The 19-year-old beat Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic 6:4, 7:5 on Thursday evening (local time). The first semi-final was interrupted for almost 50 minutes because several environmental activists disrupted the game with shouts and one of them stuck himself in the stands.

“I treated it like a rain break. We have so many interruptions in tennis,” Gauff said coolly on ESPN. It was only difficult because the length of the compulsory break could not be foreseen. “The crazy thing is – I said this morning, ‘I bet there will be a climate change protest in the final.’ I didn’t think it would be in the semi-final.” In a high-class game at the end, Gauff converted her sixth match point after more than two hours.

“Stop fossil fuels”

With the score at 6:4, 1:0 for Gauff, environmental activists shouted slogans in the upper tier of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Pictures showed them wearing T-shirts with “End Fossil Fuels” and the group Extinction Rebellion printed on them. “We don’t want to harm the athletes. We have nothing against sport,” one of the activists told the AP news agency. From his perspective, the US Open has sponsorship deals with companies that contribute to global warming. They want to “draw attention to the problem that there will no longer be tennis for anyone in the world to enjoy.”

Initially, according to the organizers in a statement, three people were taken away. “When security arrived, there was one person with bare feet taped to the floor,” tournament director Stacey Allaster told ESPN, explaining the long disruption. New York police and medical personnel were necessary to remove the person from the stadium, it said. The man was taken away in handcuffs by police officers. All four people were in police custody, according to organizers.

“Problem in the spectator area”

In the meantime there was an announcement in the stadium that “a problem in the spectator area” would be solved and the game should continue as quickly as possible. Gauff first practiced a few serves, Muchova had treatment. Both players then went into the catacombs of the largest tennis stadium in the world. Numerous spectators chanted in the direction of the protesters: “Throw them out.”

After almost 45 minutes, the players came back onto the pitch to the cheers of the spectators and warmed up again. They resumed the game at 8:55 p.m. (local time) with a break of almost 50 minutes.

When the score was 5:3 in the second set, Gauff earned her first match point. Muchova fended off a total of five chances to win the crowd favorite, some spectacularly – until the American was allowed to celebrate. She formed a heart with her hands towards the fans. “At some points it was so loud, I don’t know if my ears are okay,” Gauff joked. “This is crazy. I watched the tournament growing up, so it means a lot to me. I hope you come back and support me on Saturday.” Then she will face the winner of the duel between her compatriot Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus.