Protesters halted play at the US Open women’s semi-final on Thursday with American Coco Gauff leading Czech Karolina Muchova.
With Gauff up a set and holding serve to open the second, a disturbance erupted in the upper bowl of Arthur Ashe Stadium and shouting began, disrupting play. Photographs of the scene showed three protesters wearing shirts with the slogan, “End Fossil Fuels”.
As players looked into the stands, security flooded into the section around the disturbance. Television showed more than a dozen law enforcement officers in the section.
Players left the court and waited over 49 minutes for play to resume.
Just Stop Oil protesters interrupted play at Wimbledon in July, releasing orange ticker-tape mixed with jigsaw puzzle pieces during matches.
Gauff 6-4, 3-2 Muchova*
Muchova has definitely come back from the break with the tactic of going at Gauff’s forehand at every opportunity.
First double fault from Gauff makes it 30-30. Big point coming up. Gauff finds her first serve, gets the short ball and finishes with a forehand winner.
And she survives that little scare when Muchova’s forehand flies wide.
2:10AM
Gauff* 6-4, 2-2 Muchova
Break point chance for Gauff after Muchova nets a backhand.
Great rally. The players go toe-to-toe, Gauff striking her forehand confidently and she approaches the net behind, hits a good volley but Muchova flights a lovely lob over her head to save break point.
And she holds when Gauff’s forehand return goes long.
2:04AM
Gauff 6-4, 2-1 Muchova*
Love hold for Gauff as she finishes the game with a backhand volley winner. Both players look pretty sharp considering what they just experienced.
Gauff* 6-4, 1-1 Muchova (*denotes next server)
After nearly 50 minutes since the last point, Muchova serves to get the match back under way. How will both players react after that very long delay? Who will it help most?
I’m seeing video footage of Muchova receiving treatment on her abdominal area during the break.
But she appears to be moving well as she gets to 40-0. Gauff keeps herself in the game with a backhand winner down the line, 40-30. But she nets a forehand and Muchova holds.
