Tennis Player Calls for Fan Removal Over Safety Concerns at Wimbledon
Tennis player Yulia Putintseva halted her match at Wimbledon on June 30, demanding the removal of a fan she deemed "dangerous." The incident occurred during her first-round clash against Amanda Anisimova on Court 15.
As the match progressed, Putintseva voiced her concerns to the chair umpire, insisting, "Can you take him out? I’m not going to continue playing until he leaves." Her agitation was directed at a spectator she described as "crazy," gesturing towards a man in green seated behind her.
"Maybe he has a knife and he will attack after, I don’t know," Putintseva expressed, highlighting the gravity of her fears. The chair umpire promptly communicated with security personnel, who reassured her that adequate measures were in place.
Despite the disruption, Putintseva faced a tough match, ultimately losing 6-0, 6-0 to Anisimova. She chose not to address the media following her defeat.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Wimbledon stated, "Following a complaint about the behaviour of a spectator at the match on court 15, the chair umpire informed security and the matter was dealt with." However, it remains unclear whether the fan was actually ejected from the venue.
Witnesses reported that the fan had been speaking in Russian about the war in Ukraine, adding context to Putintseva's concerns. Born in Moscow but representing Kazakhstan since 2012, Putintseva's background may have influenced her sensitivity to the situation.
After the match, Anisimova confirmed she had heard the fan speaking just as Putintseva was preparing to serve. "I am sure that we were protected," she remarked regarding the security measures in place.
This incident follows recent security actions taken by Wimbledon, including barring a man accused of stalking tennis star Emma Raducanu from purchasing tickets for this year's tournament. The individual had received a restraining order after exhibiting "fixated behavior" towards Raducanu during the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year.
Prior to the tournament's commencement, All England Lawn Tennis Club chief executive Sally Bolton emphasized that "the safety and well-being of all the players is our absolute top priority." She acknowledged the heightened concerns surrounding player safety and reiterated that comprehensive security protocols have been established in collaboration with law enforcement and specialized security teams.
Bolton further elaborated on their ongoing commitment to player safety: "We are putting in place measures that are reflective of the threat and risk profile at the time. It’s absolutely a top priority for us." She noted that these efforts are not limited to tournament preparation but are part of a year-round strategy to ensure player safety.
