The Extinction Rebellion movement claimed responsibility for the action in a statement, explaining that “the climate and ecological crises threaten everything on our planet, including sport.” “We are not protesting the tournament itself; we are not protesting against tennis (…) We are here because we have to interrupt this public event in a gesture of last resort to draw public attention to the climate emergency,” says activist Shayok Mukhopadhyay in the communicated.
As the players were about to start the second game of the second set, four people, according to the organization of the tournament, stood up in the upper part of the stands of the huge Arthur-Ashe court and chanted “end fossil fuels” ( stop fossil fuels, editor’s note).
The referee preferred to interrupt the game and while the public repeatedly shouted “get them out” towards the activists, Gauff and Muchova were allowed to leave the court and return to the locker room while the situation was resolved. . At the time of the interruption, Gauff led 6-4, 1-0.
Upon intervention by the police, three of the activists left peacefully, but the fourth stuck his bare feet to the ground. The police and the medical service took several minutes to unstick him before taking him out, his hands handcuffed behind his back.
