A spectator was expelled from a U.S. Open tennis match early Tuesday morning following a complaint by German player Alexander Zverev, who alleged that the individual used language associated with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime.
Zverev, the 12th seed, was in the midst of his match against the 6th-seeded Jannik Sinner, tied at 2-2 in the fourth set. At that moment, Zverev approached chair umpire James Keothavong and gestured toward the fan situated in a section behind the umpire.
“He just uttered the most well-known phrase attributed to Hitler in the world,” Zverev conveyed to Keothavong. “Such language is not tolerable.”
Keothavong faced away from the court and requested the spectator to identify himself, urging all attendees to exhibit respect for both players. Subsequently, during the changeover that followed shortly after Zverev successfully held his serve, spectators in close proximity to the individual identified him, leading to his removal by security personnel.
“A derogatory comment was aimed at Alexander Zverev,” stated Chris Widmaier, spokesperson for the U.S. Tennis Association. “The individual responsible for the comment was identified and subsequently escorted out of the stadium.”
Following the match, Zverev commented on the incident, noting that while he has encountered fans making derogatory remarks in the past, this particular incident involving Hitler was unprecedented. “He began singing the anthem associated with Hitler from the past, ‘Deutschland über alles,’ and it went too far,” Zverev remarked.
“I believe he had been engaged in the match for an extended period,” Zverev expressed. “I don’t have any issues with it; I welcome the enthusiasm and noise from fans. However, given my German heritage and the sensitivity surrounding that history, it’s not an ideal choice. With him seated prominently in the front rows, I believe many people could hear it. Therefore, if I chose not to respond, I believe it would reflect poorly on my part.”
Subsequently, Zverev experienced difficulties in the set as he grappled with the humid conditions, a stark contrast to Sinner’s severe cramping in the third set. Nevertheless, Zverev made a comeback to clinch the fifth set, ultimately concluding the marathon match that extended for 4 hours and 41 minutes, finishing around 1:40 a.m. He is now set to face defending U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Reflecting on the incident involving the fan’s remark, Zverev emphasized that it didn’t pose a significant challenge for him. “Honestly, it’s his loss not to witness the final two sets of that match,” Zverev remarked.
