Gauff did well to refocus when she and Muchova returned to the court. They did a 10-minute warm-up, before Gauff closed out the match 6-4 7-5 to reach her first US Open final.
Afterwards, the USTA released the following statement: “Following the first game of the second set in the Gauff-Muchova match, play was halted due to a protest conducted by four spectators.
“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. In total, 49 minutes elapsed before play resumed.”
The incident raises questions as to how the man managed to smuggle glue onto the grounds in the first place and why it took so long for security to arrive.
This was a predictable scenario. Sports events have been targeted by environmental activists in recent months, including the Ashes Test at Lord’s and Wimbledon. At Wimbledon, Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted two matches, including one which involved British No 1 Katie Boulter, by invading the court and throwing orange confetti and puzzle pieces on the grass. Three people were arrested.
Due to the frequency of these incidents, Gauff said she anticipated this on the morning of her semi-final. “The crazy thing is that this morning I told myself: ‘I bet there is going to be a climate change protest in the final’. I didn’t think it would be in the semi-final,” she told ESPN after her match.