The semifinal clash between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova at the US Open 2023 was interrupted by climate change protestors. It happened during the second set, causing a delay to the game at the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands on Thursday, September 8. During the halt, the 19-year-old Gauff was leading 6-4, 1-0, when the environmental activists intervened in the game for more than 45 minutes.
The protestors were wearing t-shirts that read “End Fossil Fuels.” Not only this, one of them also glued his feet to the concrete, which caused havoc in the stadium and delayed the semifinal clash of women's singles event at the last Grand Slam of the year. It forced tournament referee Jake Garner to come out onto the court, while the security headed towards the protestors.
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This wasn't the first time when a tennis match has been intervened by activists. Earlier this year, two of the Wimbledon matches were halted as environmental activists jumped on the court and scattered orange confetti on the court.
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Coming back to the match, Gauff got better of her rival Karolina Muchova and took her down 6-4, 7-5. In the final of the tournament, the 19-year-old will lock horns with No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who defeated America's Madison Keys 0-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) in another seminal match.