West News Wire: After defeating the 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, American teenager Coco Gauf overcame a disturbance from environmental activists to get to the US Open final.
Due to a disturbance by four Climate activists in the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands on Thursday night, the semifinal game was delayed by 49 minutes.
One of the demonstrators who had attached their bare feet to the arena’s concrete floor was being removed by authorities. Later, police arrested the four demonstrators.
After the game restarted, sixth seed Gauff won 6-4, 7-5 to close up a tense second set and reach to her second Grand Slam final overall.
“I always speak about preaching about what you feel and what you believe in. It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it,” the 19-year-old from Florida said in her post-match interview.
“Obviously I don’t want it to happen when I’m winning up 6-4, 1-0, and I wanted the momentum to keep going. But hey, if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get their voices heard, I can’t really get upset at it.
She continued, “Would I prefer it not happening in my match? Absolutely, yeah.” “I’m not going to just sit here and lie.”
The demonstrators wearing “End Fossil Fuels” shirts were accosted by security guards and police personnel. Three of the protesters, according to the US Tennis Association, were led out of the stadium without additional incident, but it took longer to eject the protester who had his feet firmly planted in the ground.
To securely remove the stuck person, law enforcement and medical specialists were required. They were all brought into police custody, the four activists. Extinction Rebellion claimed responsibility for the demonstration.
The Associated Press was informed by one of the demonstrators who only went by the name Ian that the US Open has sponsorship agreements with businesses whose policies are contributing to global warming.
It is the most current in a string of recent protests against the usage of fossil fuels at athletic events, particularly tennis.
Two matches at Wimbledon were stopped in July when green activists leaped from the audience at Court 18 and threw orange confetti on the grass.
A dozen people were asked to leave a US Open warm-up match in Washington last month after yelling and holding signs in opposition to the usage of fossil fuels.
Shortly after Gauff’s victory ended, the other women’s semifinal between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the United States got underway. Sabalenka prevailed 0-6, 7-6 (1), and 7-6 (10-5) to win the match and go to her second Grand Slam final.
Gauff and Sabalenka will play each other for the championship in Ashe on Saturday.
