Grand slam wham bam! Moment spectator brawl interrupted play at U.S. Open

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By Daily Mail Reporter

Argument: The woman and her father (pictured right) apparently took offence at the swearing of the male fan (left) during Novak Djokovic's match against Philipp Petzschner at the U.S. Open


There might be the occasional flare-up on court - but it was on the genteel stands of the Arthur Ashe Stadium that the real action took place yesterday.

Police were forced to escort three fans out of the U.S. Open after a fight broke out during Novak Djokovic's match against Philipp Petzschner.

The second round match was halted in the eighth game of the first set after the brawl kicked off - apparently when a female spectator and her father took exception to another fan's swearing.


Fight: After being told they did not approve of his behaviour the man continued to swear at the pair, prompting the woman's father to lash out at the spectator


Tumble: The men then tussled and fell two rows of seats before the woman approached the man and slapped him. All three were later handcuffed and led away


Third-seed Djokovic and Petzschner stopped playing and looked up into the stands while New York police handcuffed the fans and led them out of the stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier said afterwards there had been a 'disagreement over verbiage' during the game on Thursday.

Reports suggest the woman, in her 40s, and her father confronted a male fan who was 'swearing and acting obnoxiously'.


Fight: The woman, in her 40s, reportedly took exception to the continual swearing of the male fan (pictured in the blue T-shirt) during Novak Djokovic's match


Tennis brawl: After the woman slapped the man other fans became involved and tried to separate the pair


Fists stop play: No one is believed to have been hurt in the clashes but the trio were handcuffed and led away by police


Police claim the man was unhappy at their feedback and continued to swear at the pair.

The woman then slapped the male fan before her father and the man tussled and fell over two rows of seats.

The trio were later handcuffed and led away from the stadium. None of the fans were arrested and instead were told not to return to the U.S. Open for the foreseeable future.

Widmaier later attempted to play down the incident, stating: 'It was a hot night in New York. Things happen.'

He will next play wild-card entry James Blake of the United States in the third round.
And Britain's No.1 Andy Murray takes on 113rd seed Dustin Browne of Jamaica in their second round match tonight at 8pm (BST).


Game on: After the delay, Djokovic (left) went on to beat Petzschner (right) in straight sets to progress to the third round



source: dailymail
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