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coco goff She said she couldn’t “really be upset” with the climate protesters who caused her a 45-minute delay. us open Semifinal against Karolina Muchova on Thursday.
Goff, who moved forward win the match 6-4 7-5 And reaching her second Grand Slam final, she was leading at the beginning of the second set when interruption occurred.
In a statement, the US Open called it a “fan-related” incident at Arthur Ashe Stadium and said an attendee “glued himself to the floor and due to the nature of this action, medical professionals, NYPD and security personnel There was a need to resolve the issue and remove the fan from the stand.”
According to the ESPN broadcast, fans inside the stadium cheered as the attendee – who was yelling about “environmental issues” – was removed.
According to a statement from the US Tennis Association, four protesters were involved and three of them were “evicted from the stadium without incident”.
Gough later told reporters, “Throughout history, moments like this are certainly defining moments.” “I believe in climate change. I don’t really know what they were protesting about. I know it was about the environment. I believe in him 100%.
“I think there are things we can do better. I know tournaments are doing better for the environment. Would I like this to not happen in my match? 100%, yes. I am not going to sit here and lie. But it is what it is.”
Both Gauff and Muchova left the court during the delay as protesters were cleared from the stadium.
Climate protesters also caused disruption last year’s french open And Match at Wimbledon earlier this yearWhere they sprinkled orange confetti and jigsaw puzzle pieces on the grass playing surface.
“I had a feeling that was going to happen in this tournament,” Gauff said. “It happened at the French Open, it happened at Wimbledon. So, you know, trend-wise, it was definitely going to happen here.
She further said, “I was not angry with the protesters. I know the stadium was there because it just disrupted the entertainment. I always speak about preaching what you feel and what you believe. It was done peacefully, so I can’t be too angry about it.
“Obviously, I don’t want that to happen when I’m winning 6-4 1-0 and I wanted that momentum to continue. But hey, if they feel like they need to do that to get their voice heard, I can’t really be bothered with that.
Gauff, the youngest woman to reach a US Open final since Serena Williams in 1999, will next face Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka as she bids to win her first Grand Slam title.