Tennis
The tension didn’t simmer after Coco Gauff and Laura Siegemund’s drama-filled match Monday at the US Open.
Following Gauff’s first-round victory over Siegemund in three sets at Flushing Meadows, where the outspoken crowd booed the German after her defeat, the competitors shared what’s being described as a “frosty” handshake.
Afterward, Gauff shook hands with the umpire.
Then, Siegemund — who had furiously confronted chair umpire Marijana Veljovic after receiving a point penalty — snubbed the referee by walking off the court and not shaking hands.
That fueled louder boos that rang down from the rowdy crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
During the match, Siegemund complained to Veljovic — with whom the 35-year-old German said she does not have a good relationship — after she was hit with a time violation for walking off to her towel, which saw Gauff go up 5-1 in the deciding set.
The call sparked a roaring reaction from the crowd, which was behind Gauff, a 19-year-old Florida native, throughout the entirety of the match.
In her post-match interview, Siegemund explained that she had a bad time at the Grand Slam due to the “disrespectful” fans.
“I never did anything against the audience,” said the world’s No. 121, who defeated Gauff in her first set. “I stayed calm. I never made — not even a gesture — against the audience. And they had no respect for me.
“They had no respect for the way I played. They have no respect for the player that I am. They have no respect for tennis, for good tennis. This is something that I have to say hurts really bad.”
During the match, Gauff complained to the umpire about Siegemund’s slow pace.
After receiving a time violation, Siegemund, who felt the opposite, said Gauff was playing “almost unreasonably fast.”
Siegemund rallied back to 5-4 in the decider, but Gauff ultimately edged the German qualifier to win, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, and advance to the second round.
Siegemund added that she is contemplating not returning to the tournament.
“I mean, I would only come back because this is a Slam,” she said after the defeat. “But for sure, not for the people, to give them a show. If they are like this, they don’t deserve a show.”
Gauff will face Russian Mirra Andreeva in the second round.
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