The US Open
Protest mars Gauff surge into US Open final
Coco Gauff reached her second Grand Slam final with a 6-4, 7-5 defeat of Karolina Muchova on Thursday in a US Open match interrupted for nearly 50 minutes by climate change protests in the stands.
A group of four protesters began shouting early in the second set with play stopped as security moved into the upper reaches of the 24,000-seat venue to control the situation.
Local media reported one of the group wearing an “End Fossil Fuels” T-shirt had glued his feet to the cement floor of the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands and was soon surrounded by up to 15 New York police.
After nearly 40 minutes he was seen being escorted out in handcuffs by the cops, who had managed to free his feet from the floor after leading away the other three.
Both Gauff and Muchova left the court puzzled at the 10-minute mark and returned to the locker room during the unusual distraction.
The interruption proved to be so long that a full warmup was required before play resumed with Gauff up a set and 1-0.
“We had three environmental protestors, two were removed quickly. Security found one of them had glued his bare feet to the cement floor,” Tournament Director Stacey Allaster said.
Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
An official tournament notice said: “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.
“The four protesters were taken into NYPD custody.”
After the resumption, Gauff went about her business of becoming the youngest finalist here since 1999, finally moving through on her sixth match point.
That opportunity was set up by a massive 40-shot rally, with the American teenager finally prevailing.
She repeated a win she took three week ago in the final at Cincinnati over her Czech opponent.
“I grew up watching this event,” the winner said. “it means a lot to be in the final.
“There’s a lot to celebrate but the job is not done yet. I hope you fans back me on Saturday (final).’
Gauff will bid for the trophy against either second seed Aryna Sabalenka or fellow American Madison Keys.
In the opening set, Gauff got away to a 5-1 lead but was pulled up short as Muchova won the next three games to pull to 4-5.
The US teenager escaped after 48 minutes to capture the set with a break-back before the protest incident unfolded.
Gauf is now 17-1 since going out in the first round at Wimbledon two months ago.
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
The protagonists from the just-completed China Open will give the WTA Wuhan event a miss, with both Zheng Qinwen and finalist Mirra Andreeva skipping the key Asian date.
Beijing weekend champion Zheng who thrilled a nation with her home title victory, is claiming a right shoulder injury which Andreeva feels “fatigue.”
“I’m very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Wuhan Open,” Zheng said in a statement. “Wuhan is where my tennis dream began, and the Wuhan Open is also where I made my breakthrough at the WTA 1000 level.
“I have always looked forward to competing in front of my hometown fans.
“Since returning from injury, however, I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open.
“My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches. I look forward to returning to the Wuhan Open next year and stepping onto the court in my best possible form!”
Andreeva’s Beijing performance has lifted the teenager into the ranking top 3 for the first time and gives her a shot at the world No. 1 ranking by season’s end next month.
Main photo :-Zheng Quinwen by ISF Ltd
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