(New York) A spectator was ejected from the U.S. Open on Monday during Germany’s Alexander Zverev’s match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner for shouting the words to Nazi Germany’s anthem from the stands.
Zverev was serving in the fourth set in the round of 16 against Italian Jannik Sinner on the Arthur Ashe court when the incident occurred.
The German, 12th in the world, went to chair umpire James Keothavong to complain. “He just said the most famous Hitler phrase in the world,” Zverev told the referee. ” It’s incredible “.
Keothavong then consulted security officials to try to identify the culprit. Eventually, a man wearing a blue baseball cap was singled out and ordered to leave the compound.
Zverev later told reporters that he heard the spectator singing the opening words of the Nazi-era German anthem, “Deutschland Über Alles.” “He started singing the Hitler anthem of the time – Deutschland Über Alles – it was a bit too much,” Zverev said.
“He got involved in the game for a long time and I don’t mind. I like when the fans are loud, I like when the fans are emotional, but I think as a German I’m not really proud of this story, it’s not really a good thing to do added the 26-year-old.
“And him sitting in one of the front rows, a lot of people heard him. If I don’t react, I think it’s not right of me,” he stressed.
Zverev, however, said he didn’t let the incident shake him as he eventually secured a five-set victory over the world No.6 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6 , 6-3.
