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The U.S. Open after dark is getting out of control.
That’s according to former pro Rennae Stubbs, who coached Serena Williams for the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s run at last year’s U.S. Open before her retirement.
Stubbs, who is currently working as an ESPN analyst at the tournament, claimed early Tuesday she had a drink thrown on her “by a drunk fan who was fighting with her boyfriend.”
“There are some fans this late at night @usopen that are not good!” Stubbs posted on Twitter. “I [love] the fans but at this point there are some bad characters. I had a drink thrown on me last night by a drunk fan who was fighting with her boyfriend.”
The 52-year-old Stubbs then referenced the fan who was booted from the Alexander Zverev-Jannik Sinner match for allegedly uttering “the most famous Hitler phrase there is.”
“Now we got someone yelling Hitler slurs! Wtf? Come on peeps,” Stubbs wrote.
Stubbs — a six-time Grand Slam champion and four-time Olympian — did not elaborate further on the scene at the U.S. Open.
The Australian posted her message in the wake of an incident that unfolded during the fourth-round match between Germany’s Zverev and Italy’s Sinner on Monday night.
There are some fans this late at night @usopen that are not good! I ❤️ the fans but at this point there are some bad characters. I had a drink thrown on me last night by a drunk fan who was fighting with her boyfriend. Now we got someone yelling Hitler slurs! Wtf? Come on peeps.
— Rennae Stubbs 🟦👍🏼 (@rennaestubbs) September 5, 2023
During the contest, Zverev reported to chair umpire James Keothavong that he heard someone in the crowd saying “the most famous Hitler phrase to me.”
“He just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is in this world. It’s unacceptable. This is unbelievable,” Zverev told the umpire, according to ABC News.
The incident occurred just before 12:15 a.m. ET as Zverev, the world No. 12, was serving at 2-2 in the fourth set against Sinner, who is ranked sixth in the world.
Security was looking for a fan who yelled during the Jannik Sinner & Alexander Zverev match.
Zverev said he yelled "the most famous Hitler phrase.”
Security looked for the person for at least 10 minutes.
They escorted a fan out & the crowd cheered as they left. pic.twitter.com/QDClUPqPwu
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023The umpire immediately turned around to investigate the situation.
“Put your hand up,” Keothavong said. “Who said that? Who said that? Who said that? We are going to get him out.”
The fan was eventually removed from Arthur Ashe Stadium by security, with the crowd cheering as he was escorted out of the arena.
I asked Alexander Zverev what that fan said.
"He started signing the anthem of Hitler, back in the day. It was a bit too much. I think he was getting involved in the match too much. Me being German & not really proud of that history, it's not really a great thing to do." #usopen pic.twitter.com/HIwkAhdLSg
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (IG:twdbk3) (@sluggahjells) September 5, 2023Zverev beat Sinner in a grueling match that lasted four hours and 41 minutes — the longest match of the 2023 U.S. Open.
He will face World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
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