US Open: Fan ejected for shouting 'most famous Hitler phrase' at Alexander Zverev

Fan ejected from US Open for shouting "most famous Hitler phrase" during Zverev's match, causing disruption and controversy.

During Alexander Zverev's Round of 16 match with Jannik Sinner at the US Open, an unsettling incident occurred that led to a fan being ejected from the stadium. In the fourth set of Zverev's hard-fought victory, he abruptly halted play and approached the chair official, gesturing towards the stands behind them. Zverev informed the official that the fan had uttered "the most famous Hitler phrase there is," expressing his disbelief and deeming it unacceptable.

The official immediately reprimanded the crowd, attempting to identify the individual responsible for the offensive remark. Zverev and Sinner swiftly resumed their match, with Zverev ultimately winning the game and securing a 3-2 lead in the set. During the subsequent break, a group of security personnel approached a man seated approximately ten rows back at Arthur Ashe Stadium and escorted him out of the venue.

Following the match, Zverev addressed the media, revealing the content of the fan's disturbing comments and sharing his thoughts on the incident. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) confirmed that a fan had made a "disparaging remark" towards Zverev, leading to their removal from the stadium.

Zverev, hailing from Hamburg, Germany, had displayed a strong performance throughout the match. He had taken an early lead, particularly excelling in the third set, where he won four consecutive games, securing a 6-2 victory. The fan incident occurred in the fourth set, during which Sinner mounted a comeback, winning three consecutive games and forcing a fifth set.

Despite appearing to experience discomfort in the fourth set, Zverev made a remarkable comeback in the final set. He dominated the match, particularly in a seemingly endless third game, ultimately securing a 3-0 lead and maintaining his advantage until the end, clinching a 6-3 victory. Notably, this match concluded just before 1:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday, making it the longest match of the US Open thus far.

Looking ahead, Zverev will progress to the quarterfinals, where he will face top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz emerged victorious in his earlier match against Matteo Arnaldi, triumphing in straight sets. On the other side of the bracket, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are set to compete in the other quarterfinals match.

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