US Open finalist, Coco Gauff, has said she held no animosity toward the protesters who interrupted her semi-final match against Karolina Muchova on Thursday even though she did think their timing could have been a lot better.
The American eventually beat Czech Muchova 6-4 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the US Open final for the first time as she continued her terrific season.
After winning the first set and taking the opening game of the second, the match was halted when four protesters began shouting from the stands.
Gauff, 19, said protests like these are “history-defining” moments.
Security escorted three out but it took longer to remove the fourth.
“Would I prefer it not to happen in my match? 100% yeah,” said Gauff. “I’m not going to sit here and lie. But it is what it is.
“I always speak about preaching, you know, preaching about what you feel and what you believe in.
“It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get mad at it. Obviously, I didn’t want it to happen when I’m winning 6-4 1-0 and I wanted to keep the momentum going.
“But hey, if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get their voices heard, I can’t really get upset at it.”
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said all four were in New York Police Department (NYPD) custody.
“The fourth protester affixed their bare feet to the floor of the seating bowl,” the USTA said in a statement.
“Due to the nature of this action, NYPD and medical personnel were needed in order to safely remove this individual from the stadium.”