US Open: Climate activists interrupt ladies’s semi-final and glue their footwear to the bottom

Sep 08, 2023 at 3:08 AM
US Open: Climate activists interrupt ladies’s semi-final and glue their footwear to the bottom

Climate activists have interrupted the ladies’s semi-final on the US Open.

The protesters had been sporting shirts that stated End Fossil Fuels – and commenced inflicting disruption from the stands initially of the second set.

At least one demonstrator had glued their footwear to the bottom, making them tougher to take away.

New York police officers escort a protester out of the crowd after a disruption in play between Coco Gauff, of the United States, and Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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Pic: AP

They gave the impression to be from the Extinction Rebellion group – and followers started to cheer as cops arrived to take them away.

The protest – one in all many to focus on sporting occasions in current months – delayed the showdown between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova on the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Coco Gauff, of the United States, reacts to a disruption in play against Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Coco Gauff reacts as play is disrupted. Pic: AP

Gauff initially sat on the sidelines and ate fruit from a plastic container whereas ready for play to renew, and hit a number of follow serves earlier than heading to the locker room together with her opponent.

It took greater than 35 minutes for the protesters to be eliminated, and play was suspended for one of the best a part of an hour.

An advisory about a disruption in play is displayed on the large screen inside Arthur Ashe Stadium during play between Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, and Coco Gauff, of the United States, during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Back in July, two matches had been interrupted at Wimbledon after environmental activists jumped out of the stands at an outdoor court docket and scattered orange confetti and jigsaw items on the grass.

Protests have additionally taken place at The British Open golf championship, The Ashes, and the World Snooker Championship.

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Just Stop Oil disrupt The Open

Sports stars have beforehand stated such interruptions might be unnerving.

After her Wimbledon match was affected, British No 1 Katie Boulter stated it was “a shock to the system” and “a really unfortunate situation for everyone”.

Just Stop Oil and comparable teams have divided opinion with their techniques, however the activists behind the high-profile protests have struck a defiant tone.

A protester on court 18 throwing confetti on to the grass during Katie Boulter’s first-round match against Daria Saville on day three of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. Picture date: Wednesday July 5, 2023.

One retired instructor who interrupted Wimbledon stated on the time: “Forget strawberries and cream, scientists are warning of impending food shortages, mass displacement and war.

“This is a disaster and it wants a disaster response.”