NEW YORK — The US Open semifinal between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova was stopped for 49 minutes because of four environmental protestors in the upper deck of Arthur Ashe Stadium, three of whom were photographed wearing T-shirts that said “End Fossil Fuels.” The shirts appeared to be associated with the UK-based Extinction Rebellion group.
The protestors made their presence known just before the second game of the second set, breaking the quiet with a loud chant as Muchova went to serve the first point.
At first, there was confusion in the stadium as people tried to find where the disturbance was coming from. Players were instructed to go back to their chairs as the protestors were identified, standing in solidarity as several members of the security team surrounded them.
But there seemed to be some difficulty in removing them, and as the delay dragged on fans at one point began chanting “Get them out, get them out.”
Final-bound:Coco Gauff navigates delay created by environmental protestors, reaches US Open final
At roughly the 15-minute mark of the delay, Gauff got up and began hitting a few serves, then went to speak with her coaching box. Muchova left the court and Gauff followed shortly after that.
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