Tennis US Open
“No respect” – German tennis player bursts into tears
Status: 29.08.2023 | Reading time: 2 minutes
Laura Siegemund had a difficult time with the US audience
Those: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Laura Siegemund takes on a local hero in the first round of the US Open. Already on the pitch there are accusations, discussions and ugly scenes. After the match, the German can no longer contain herself.
As she left the square and made her way into the catacombs, she kept shaking her head. She looked annoyed. When she then spoke to the media representatives present, she let her displeasure run free. The German tennis player Laura Siegemund sharply criticized the audience at the US Open after her narrow three-set defeat against the American Coco Gauff.
“I’m very disappointed with how people treated me,” said the 35-year-old early Tuesday morning at the Grand Slam tournament in New York, crying at times at the press conference: “They had no respect for me, they had no respect for good tennis, that hurts a lot.”
The spectators had booed Siegemund at times at 6: 3, 2: 6, 4: 6 and applauded after devious first serves. “I’ve only experienced this unfair, disrespectful behavior towards a non-American on this court so far,” said Siegemund, who at 35 has experienced a lot in tennis. Apparently not something like that: “It’s the first time I’ve been crying in a press conference.”
“I am shocked”
Her 19-year-old opponent Gauff had heated up the atmosphere in the stadium and repeatedly complained during the almost three-hour game that Siegemund needed longer than the allowed time to prepare between rallies. “She’s never ready when I serve – how can that be fair?” complained the sixth in the world rankings to referee Marijana Veljovic. The German received two warnings for violating the time rules, which gave Gauff a point.
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Gauff also disliked other behavior. “I’ve never seen a player talk so much to the referee,” criticized the US star in front of the world press. “She did the big discussion,” Siegemund replied a few minutes later, one room down the line.
Laura Siegemund discusses with the referee. She received two warnings during the game
What: AP/Frank Franklin II
Siegemund will still be in action in women’s doubles at the US Open and has also registered for mixed. When asked if she would return to the US Open again, she replied: “I would only come back because it’s a Grand Slam tournament. But certainly not to put on a show for the people. If they act like that, they don’t deserve a show. I am shocked.”
