Alexander Zverev’s nighttime US Open round of 16 match against Jannik Sinner was marred by an alleged racial slur against the German number 12.
Zverev and Sinner were locked in a thrilling fourth-round clash in the early hours of the morning in New York when the former complained to the referee about a comment he had heard in the seconds before a point.
Over the pitchside microphones, Hamburg-born Zverev was heard telling British referee James Keothavong that a fan had “said the most famous Hitler phrase to me,” before adding, “That’s unacceptable.”
In response, the referee turned in his chair, addressed the most expensive pitchside seats directly, and asked the offender to identify himself.
When no one spoke up, Keothavong called on the entire audience to respect the players while security was dispatched to the area to try to rectify the awkward situation.
Alexander Zverev was involved in a brilliant game in New York but was marred by an off-pitch comment he heard from a fan in New York
Jannik Sinner was Zverev’s opponent in the heated match that lasted late into the night
The game continued before cameras returned to the stands a few minutes later to show a middle-aged man being approached by security and then escorted out of the arena – much to the delight of fans around him.
It’s unclear exactly what the man allegedly said and whether the man pictured by the ESPN cameras is the fan who allegedly made the insult.
It’s not the first incident involving spectators at this year’s US Open, as Daniil Medvedev openly criticized the noise from fans after one of his matches.
“Thanks to everyone who didn’t scream between my first and second serves,” he told the crowd after beating Sebastian Baez.
“There was one viewer though, maybe he has a girlfriend or a wife that I don’t know how will sleep… He was particularly excited and will spend the night saying vamos, vamos, vamos without ever stopping.” ‘ I feel sorry for him.’
The New York crowd was vocal throughout the tournament. There is no evidence that the men pictured above were involved in any wrongdoing.
Fans watch Carlos Alcaraz vs Matteo Arnaldi on Monday afternoon
Elsewhere, other fans have commented on the “wild” atmosphere on offer – particularly over Labor Day weekend in the Big Apple.
In the match itself, Zverev won the first set on Monday evening against his Italian opponent Sinner, who is sixth and going into the fourth round as a favorite.
Sinner fought to equalize in one set before Zverev made the most of his opponent’s injury problems to secure the third set.
However, when everything seemed lost for Sinner shortly before 1 a.m. in the Big Apple, he won the fourth set and thus forced the decisive set.
