Coco Gauff has weighed in on the climate change protests that disrupted her U.S. Open semifinal match in opposition to Karolína Muchová on Thursday evening.
The 19-year-old Florida native was asked during a post-match press conference to share her ideas on the protest, which occurred within the stands of Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. She advised reporters that she thought the demonstration was an instance of the various “defining moments” of protest all through historical past.
“I believe in climate change,” she mentioned. “I don’t really know exactly what they were protesting ― I know it was about the environment and I 100% believe in that. I think there’s things we can do better. I know the tournaments are doing things to do better for the environment.”
“Would I prefer it not happening in my match? 100%, yeah,” she continued. “I’m not going to sit here and lie. But, you know, it is what it is.”
Gauff later emphasised that though she wished the demonstration hadn’t occurred throughout her match, she wasn’t “pissed” on the protesters.
“I always speak about preaching about what you feel and what you believe in. And it was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it,” she mentioned.
She added, “But hey, if that’s what they felt that they needed to do to get their voices heard, I can’t really get upset at it.”
Gauff was main 1-0 within the second match when the match was stopped and delayed for roughly 50 minutes as a result of protest.
Three environmental activists stood up in the stands and chanted, “End fossil fuels,” carrying shirts that mentioned the identical. One protester glued his naked ft to the ground. The crowd loudly booed the demonstrators.
The U.S. Tennis Association mentioned in an announcement that 4 activists have been taken into police custody, and that the NYPD and medical personnel have been wanted to soundly take away the person who glued his ft to the ground, the Associated Press reported.
One protester, who recognized himself solely as Ian, advised the AP that the group believes the event has sponsorship offers with firms whose insurance policies contribute to international warming.
“We are not trying to harm the athletes in any way. We have nothing against the sport,” he mentioned. “But we are really trying to draw attention to an issue here that there will be no tennis left for anybody in the world to enjoy.”
Gauff in the end defeated Muchová and superior to the U.S. Open remaining for the primary time. She is about to play Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus within the remaining on Saturday.
Gauff lately obtained heartwarming reward from four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka.
Osaka, who gave beginning to a baby lady in July after stepping away from tennis final yr, advised ESPN on Wednesday that she hopes her daughter will someday look as much as Gauff.
“She seems like such a good person,” she mentioned about Gauff. “And just everything that she’s doing and speaking out about so many different topics — it’s something that I would love my kid to look up after her as a role model.”
