Tensions ran high at the U.S. Open late Saturday night as Czech tennis player Jakub Mensik requested the ejection of a disruptive spectator during his third-round match against American Learner Tien.
The incident occurred in Louis Armstrong Stadium as the match extended into the early hours of Sunday morning. While the majority of the crowd supported the American Tien, one fan repeatedly heckled Mensik, prompting the player to halt play and ask security for the fan's removal. Chants of "Kick him out" were heard from other attendees, and the spectator left before security intervened.
Following the disruption, Tien went on to win the five-set match with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, advancing to the fourth round.
The ejection of the spectator is the latest in a series of unusual incidents at this year's tournament. Earlier in the week, two influencers, Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, reported that their credentials were revoked after posting photos of them on social media while dining out.
In another unusual event, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was forced to pause her third-round match due to a strong smell of marijuana emanating from within the stadium. Sabalenka alerted the umpire, who then radioed for assistance to locate and address the source of the odor.
These incidents add to a week of notable events at the U.S. Open, which has seen a rise in the presence of influencers and new fans, alongside traditional on-court drama.