Picture Credit: Twitter
The WTA Citi Open final between Coco Gauff and Maria Sakkari was briefly interrupted on Sunday as the organizers had to halt the match to check on an ill spectator in the stands. There were two separate incidents that happened during the game, which Gauff won 6-2, 6-3 .
The second incident happened in the second set, when Sakkari was leading 2-1 and serving at 15-40. The umpire announced that there was a medical emergency in the crowd and asked the players to stop playing. The video of the incident showed Gauff and Sakkari patiently waiting on their chairs while the person was treated.
Maria Sakkari's coach was seen encouraging her from the stands as she faced a crucial situation with two break points against her. After the game restarted, the Greek player was able to avoid the first break point, but Coco Gauff took advantage of the next opportunity to secure the break.
The match resumed after a few minutes, and she held on to seal the victory in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. The 19-year-old American claimed her fourth career WTA title and her second of the year, after winning in Parma in May. The teen won her fourth WTA Tour singles title of her career while also becoming the youngest women's champion of hard-court tournament in the nation's capital.
These incidents have become more frequent because of the excessive heat, which could lead to dehydration. Along with that, at some of the tennis tournaments, the cost of water is very high, because of which many try and refrain from drinking water, and bringing your own bottle inside is not allowed.
