Siegemund driven to tears after controversial Gauff tie at US Open, believes crowd was being unfair to her
WTA
Laura
Siegemund ended up in tears after losing to Coco Gauff in the US Open and
showed disappointment with the treatment from the crowd.
The
35-year-old tennis player fell in the first round against American Gauff in a
tough match with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 4-6. Despite winning the first set, world
No. 6 bounced back and with strong support from the audience, she overcame the
German player.
In the
third set, a controversy arose that led to the crowd booing after Siegemund
took a long time to be ready for her opponent's serve. The German player
expressed her disappointment with the outcome and the reception from the crowd:
“I am very,
very disappointed with the way the people treated me today,” said Siegemund.
“I am a
fighter, I never did anything against the audience. I stayed calm. I never made
not even a gesture against the audience. And they had no respect for me.
“They had
no respect for the way I played. They have no respect for the player that I am.
They have no respect for tennis, for good tennis. This is something that I have
to say hurts really bad,” the German player added
“There is
no doubt that I am slow. There is no doubt about that. I’m getting time
violations. There is no doubt about that I should be quicker…but at the same
time, it’s how I play. I’m very slow. I do it for me, I don’t do it against the
other one. Clapping when you miss the first serve, those kinds of things, I
have no understanding for it."
“This kind
of behaviour, respectless behaviour to a non-American player I have only
experienced on this court. To treat the opponent like this, it’s no good for
tennis.”
“What do I
play tennis for? I play for the people, I play for the effort. I know there are
fans that appreciate fighting and not giving up and good sport. I think this is
the first time I have cried in a press conference.
“They
treated me bad. They treated me like I was a cheater. Like I was trying sneaky
ways to win this match or something. They treated me like I was a bad person.
But you know there are people who are throwing racquets, who are screaming, who
are like making bad gestures toward the audience. I did not one moment in the
whole match, and there was a lot of tension going on. Not one moment I did
anything.”
“I was just
slow. That’s something in the rules, I get my time violation, that’s fine,” she
added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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