A fan was ejected from Arthur Ashe Stadium during Alexander Zverev’s fourth-round match at the U.S. Open after making an offensive remark that German 12th seed Zverev deemed “unacceptable.”
During a highly competitive match that saw Zverev eventually defeat sixth seed Jannik Sinner 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in almost five hours, the incident occurred while Zverev was serving in the fourth set. In a moment of frustration, Zverev stopped to inform chair umpire James Keothavong about the spectator’s offensive comment.
“He just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is in this world,” Zverev angrily told Keothavong. “This is unacceptable. This is unbelievable.”
In response, the chair umpire promptly turned to address the spectator, asking him to identify himself. However, the individual did not come forward. Keothavong then used the incident as an opportunity to remind fans to remain fair and respectful to both players.
Shortly afterward, security personnel approached the court to identify the man, enlisting the help of other spectators. Eventually, the fan was escorted out of the stadium.
The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) issued a statement confirming that “a disparaging remark was directed towards Zverev” and noted that the fan was identified and removed from the stadium.
Despite the incident, Zverev was able to regain his composure and secure the victory, which he later described as the best moment of his career. Zverev has made an impressive comeback from a serious ankle injury he suffered last year. He is now set to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
