The semi-final match between Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina at the U.S. Open ended on a sour note due to the behavior of the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. When Gauff attempted a game-saving overhead, the crowd wildly cheered, but when the shot went long, crowning Rybakina the winner, they remained completely silent.
The crowd’s reaction was not just limited to the final point. As soon as the match was over, the vast majority of fans left the stadium immediately, leaving Rybakina to hold her post-match interview in front of almost no fans and hit balls into near-empty stands.
Crowd behavior at the match was shameful, especially considering that many of the fans in attendance were not there out of a love of tennis, but rather because they were comped a ticket or saw the event as a chance to network. The crowd’s lack of appreciation for Rybakina’s win was evident, and it’s basic decency in tennis to show respect for the winner, regardless of who they are.
In this case, the unwritten rules of etiquette and respect in sport apply, as the winner deserved an extra handful of minutes to be appreciated by the crowd. The U.S. Open is a celebration of tennis as a whole, not just a platform for rooting for the hometown talent.
The crowd reaction made it clear that this was not a typical tennis fanbase. These were not people who understood the sport or appreciated the gravity of the match. Instead, it was another outing where the fans who appreciate the sport the most are left in the cold, while corporations and sponsors get the lion’s share of the tickets, with others being gobbled up by scalpers to sell at exorbitant rates on the secondary market.
Elena Rybakina was the better tennis player on Thursday night, and she deserved the win. It’s just a shame that the crowd that packed the stands didn’t care enough to be gracious in defeat. In similar situations, such as the US Open, the crowd’s behavior has been more respectful, but in this case, it was a disappointment.
As the match came to a close, Rybakina’s win was a clear indication of her skills as a tennis player. The fact that the crowd did not appreciate her win reflects the unusual fanbase that was present at the match.
Rybakina’s victory was a notable achievement, and she should have been recognized for it by the crowd. They failed to do so, which was a disappointment given the significance of the match.
