Grand slam wham bam! Moment spectator brawl interrupted play at U.S. Open

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:03 PM on 3rd September 2010

 

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There might be the occasional flare-up on court - but it was on the genteel stands of the Arthur Ashe Stadium that the real action took place yesterday.

Police were forced to escort three fans out of the U.S. Open after a fight broke out during Novak Djokovic's match against Philipp Petzschner.

The second round match was halted in the eighth game of the first set after the brawl kicked off - apparently when a female spectator and her father took exception to another fan's swearing.

 

 

Argument: The woman and her father (pictured right) apparently took offence at the swearing of the male fan (left) during Novak Djokovic's match against Philipp Petzschner at the U.S. Open

 

Fight: After being told they did not approve of his behaviour the man continued to swear at the pair, prompting the woman's father to lash out at the spectator

 

 

Tumble: The men then tussled and fell two rows of seats before the woman approached the man and slapped him. All three were later handcuffed and led away

 

 

Third-seed Djokovic and Petzschner stopped playing and looked up into the stands while New York police handcuffed the fans and led them out of the stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier said afterwards there had been a 'disagreement over verbiage' during the game on Thursday.

Reports suggest the woman, in her 40s, and her father confronted a male fan who was 'swearing and acting obnoxiously'.

 

Fight: The woman, in her 40s, reportedly took exception to the continual swearing of the male fan (pictured in the blue T-shirt) during Novak Djokovic's match

 

 

Tennis brawl: After the woman slapped the man other fans became involved and tried to separate the pair

 

 

Fists stop play: No one is believed to have been hurt in the clashes but the trio were handcuffed and led away by police

 

 

Police claim the man was unhappy at their feedback and continued to swear at the pair.

The woman then slapped the male fan before her father and the man tussled and fell over two rows of seats.

The trio were later handcuffed and led away from the stadium. None of the fans were arrested and instead were told not to return to the U.S. Open for the foreseeable future.

Widmaier later attempted to play down the incident, stating: 'It was a hot night in New York. Things happen.'

 

Djokovic went on to beat 52nd seed Philipp Petzschner of Germany 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).

He will next play wild-card entry James Blake of the United States in the third round.

And Britain's No.1 Andy Murray takes on 113rd seed Dustin Browne of Jamaica in their second round match tonight at 8pm (BST).

 

 

Game on: After the delay, Djokovic (left) went on to beat Petzschner (right) in straight sets to progress to the third round

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1308638/US-Open-2010-Spectator-brawl-interrupted-play-Flushing-Meadows.html#ixzz0yToRAWaN

those pesky new yourkas...

I experienced similar ecstasy at Wimbledon. They didn't fight although the constant shouting was really annoying. It's tennis for good's sake - traditional exercise for the stiff and boring, money-centred newly rich. :laugh3: what's happening?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E19D_-h9MIo]YouTube- A fight broke out between spectators at US Open Arthur Ashe Stadium[/ame]

 

I actually think the young guy showed tremendous restraint in not retaliating when he was slapped and later jumped on by the old guy.

 

It was rude for the young guy to be running his mouth but the couple were the ones who raised their hands, not saying he's right but can't expect the young guy to stand there and not react in self-defence in anyway when he's being attacked by someone.

YouTube- A fight broke out between spectators at US Open Arthur Ashe Stadium[/url]

 

I actually think the young guy showed tremendous restraint in not retaliating when he was slapped and later jumped on by the old guy.

 

It was rude for the young guy to be running his mouth but the couple were the ones who raised their hands, not saying he's right but can't expect the young guy to stand there and not react in self-defence in anyway when he's being attacked by someone.

 

True - but why didn't a steward tell him to stop "running his mouth" in the first place?:confused: