Photo:Al Bello/Getty
Al Bello/Getty
Tennis starAlexander Zverevisn’t taking any bad-mouthing from off the court.
The German player, 26, complained about a male fan allegedly directing an Adolf Hitler phrase to him during his Tuesday U.S. Open match against Italian player Jannik Sinner, according to reports from theAssociated PressandABC News.
The incident happened as No. 12 seed Zverev was serving at 2-2 in the fourth set of his match against No. 6 seed Skinner at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. He stopped and went over to speak to umpire James Keothavong and pointed out the fan, who was sitting in a section behind the empire, per AP.
“He said the most famous Hitler phrase to me,” Zverev told the umpire, per ABC News. “He just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is in this world. It’s unacceptable. This is unbelievable.”
Alexander Zverev speaks with the Chair Umpire during a men’s singles match at the 2023 US Open on Monday, Sept. 4.Brad Penner/USTA via AP
Brad Penner/USTA via AP
Keothavong then turned toward the stands and asked the fan to identify himself, saying, “Put your hand up… Who said that? We are going to get him out,” according to the outlet .
The U.S. Tennis Association did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Alexander Zverev of Germany returns a shot against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their Men’s Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2023 US Open.Clive Brunskill/Getty
Clive Brunskill/Getty
“He started singing the anthem of Hitler that was back in the day. It was ‘Deutschland über alles’ and it was a bit too much,” Zverev said, the AP reported.
“I think he was getting involved in the match for a long time, though,” he added. “I don’t mind it, I love when fans are loud, I love when fans are emotional. But I think me being German and not really proud of that history, it’s not really a great thing to do and I think him sitting in one of the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don’t react, I think it’s bad from my side.”
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Zverev went on towin the lengthy five-set matchagainst Skinner, despite the pair trading off wins every other set. He finally clinched the victory in the final set 6-3 despite humid conditions at the stadium.
He will advance to face off against the No. 1 seed and defending U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals Wednesday.
source: people.com
