An unruly fan was booted from Arthur Ashe Stadium during the US Open early Tuesday morning after a German player accused him of using an unacceptable phrase that was made famous by murderous Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
During the fourth set of the marathon match between No. 12 seed Alexander Zverev and No. 6 seed Jannik Sinner, the German star couldn’t take it any longer and went to chair umpire James Keothavong to complain about the use of what he called “the most famous Hitler phrase there is.”
“It’s unacceptable,” the 26-year-old Zverev told the umpire who turned to the crowd and asked who had made the remarks. “Who said that? Who said that? We’re going to get him out,” Keothavong said, making an announcement that fans need to show respect to the players.
Video of Zverev telling the umpire that a fan just yelled “the most famous Hitler phrase” in his match against Jannik Sinner.
The last thing you’d think to hear in the middle of a tennis match.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
Security personnel then began to comb the stands in search of the culprit as the play between Zverev and Sinner continued. Cameras soon captured the offender, cutting to the stands to show a spectator who appeared to be a middle-aged man being approached and then escorted out as boos and cheers rang out.
Security was looking for a fan who yelled during the Jannik Sinner & Alexander Zverev match.
Zverev said he yelled “the most famous Hitler phrase.”
Security looked for the person for at least 10 minutes.
They escorted a fan out & the crowd cheered as they left. pic.twitter.com/QDClUPqPwu
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
“A disparaging remark was directed toward Alexander Zverev,” said U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier. “The fan was identified and escorted from the stadium.”
After the match, which Zverev won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 after outlasting his opponent in the event that lasted for a stunning 4 hours and 41 minutes, ending at about 1:40 a.m on Tuesday, the German said that he has heard fans who have made derogatory remarks before but never involving Der Führer.
“He started singing the anthem of Hitler that was back in the day. It was ‘Deutschland über alles’ and it was a bit too much,” Zverev said.
“I think he was getting involved in the match for a long time, though. I don’t mind it, I love when fans are loud, I love when fans are emotional,” he added. “But I think me being German and not really proud of that history, it’s not really a great thing to do and I think him sitting in one of the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don’t react, I think it’s bad from my side.”
Despite the Hitler distraction, Zverev was able to advance to the quarterfinals where he will face defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz.
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