The women’s semifinal match at the U.S. Open between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova was suspended for nearly an hour on Thursday night after climate change protestors caused a disturbance in the stands.
Three spectators stood up wearing T-shirts that said “End Fossil Fuels,” while also chanting to disrupt the match. Two of the protestors were immediately removed, but a third person glued their feet to the concrete at Arthur Ashe Stadium, delaying their removal from the grounds.
More than dozen police officers arrived on the scene in an effort to remove the protestor, according to the Associated Press.
During the delay Gauff and Muchova eventually went to the locker room to wait out the delay.
Gauff had won the first set when the match was halted early in the second set.
This is not the first Grand Slam tennis tournament this year that has been disrupted by protestors. Multiple matches were interrupted by protestors at Wimbledon, while a similar disturbance took place at tennis matches in Washington state last month.
It is also not the first time Gauff has had her rhythm disrupted at this tournament.
Her first-round match was highlighted by the stalling tactics of opponent Laura Siegemund, resulting in Gauff voicing her displeasure to the match umpire. Gauff ended up coming from behind in that match to win in three sets.
The delay that occurred Thursday night did not affect Gauff’s play, as she went on to win in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.