Why climate activists protested at the US Open

• Tennis

The invasion of the stands by 4 climate activists, who achieved their aim of attracting attention, blocked the regular progress of the match between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova. The first women's semifinal of the 2023 US Open was interrupted for 49 minutes.

The invasion occurred half an hour after the start of the match, which forced the organizers to make the two players leave the field: "I'll watch TikTok for a while," the American commented smiling as she crossed the Arthur Ashe tunnel Stadium.

Why climate activists protested at the US Open

It was the tournament organizers themselves who intervened a little later on social media to explain what had happened and the measures adopted to restart the match, which had been suspended for almost an hour: "After the first game of the second set, the game was interrupted due to protests from four spectators.

Three of the four demonstrators were escorted out of the stadium without further incidents. The fourth instead fixed his bare feet on the floor of the session. Due to the nature of this action, NYPD and medical personnel were required to safely remove this individual from the stadium.

The four activists were taken into custody by the police." On the topic, Coco Gauff expressed her opinion at a press conference: "I believe in climate change. I don’t know exactly what they were protesting.. I 100% believe there are things we could do better.

Would I prefer it not happening in my match? 100%. It is what it is.. moments like this are history defining moments. I wasn’t pissed at the protesters. I always speak about preaching what you believe in. It was done in a peaceful way.

I can’t get too mad at it.. if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get their voices heard I can’t really get upset at it."

Climate Change Activist glues his feet to the floor at the #USOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/QlOWsIHd11 — Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) September 8, 2023

Coco Gauff says she believes in climate change & can’t be mad at the protesters:

“I believe in climate change.

I don’t know exactly what they were protesting.. I 100% believe there are things we could do better. Would I prefer it not happening in my match? 100%. It is what it… pic.twitter.com/86CtDfmDfH — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 8, 2023