Tennis player startled during US Open match after seeing ex-boyfriend in the stands
Czech tennis player Karolína Muchová got emotional in the middle of the first set of her second-round US Open match against Romanian Sorana Cîrstea on Aug. 28. She later revealed that this was because she spotted her ex-boyfriend seated in the stands.
Her game against Cîrstea was briefly halted as she looked visibly upset as she served. She was seen wiping away tears after approaching the side of the court and later apologized for causing a delay.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Muchová revealed the reason for her reaction.
"Well… it wasn’t tennis-related, so l don’t really like talking about it. But opposite my bench, my ex-boyfriend sat down," she said in a post-match press conference, as translated by The Athletic.
"He sometimes shows up at places where he shouldn’t be. That startled me a bit. I told him to leave, he didn’t. But later he did go. It was hard to focus in that moment."
Muchová, the world's no. 13, did not mention the man to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) or the United States Tennis Association (USTA) before the tournament or after the incident, according to The Athletic. Players can ask the WTA and USTA to bar certain individuals from the games.
"Player safety is a critical element of our planning and execution for the U.S. Open. Our comprehensive security plan includes protocols and procedures for effective risk mitigation and issue management. We work closely with the ATP, WTA, ITF, ITIA and the other Grand Slam events to stay informed of all relevant situations and concerns," the USTA told The Athletic ahead of the US Open.
Despite the incident, Muchová recovered and went on to win the whole match, 7-6. 7-7, 6-4.
Before her match with Cîrstea, the Czech athlete defeated Venus Williams in the first round. She also beat out her former doubles partner, Linda Noskova, in the third round and Marta Kostyuk in Round 4.
She's set to face off against Japanese player Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals.