Squirrel Halts Play
An exciting US Open match between Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva and the Belgian pair Greet Minnen and Yanina Wickmayer took an unexpected turn on Saturday evening when a squirrel made its way onto the court. The furry intruder caused a point to be replayed, much to the confusion of the players.
Distraction Calls for Restarted Point
As the No12 seeds, Siegemund and Zvonareva, were about to win the point with a simple volley putaway, the umpire suddenly called a let early in the second set. It was then revealed that the umpire had spotted the squirrel behind Minnen and Wickmayer on the back of Court 5. According to the rules, any distraction or outside interference requires the point to be stopped and restarted.
Zooming Cameras Capture Squirrel's Escape
US Open TV cameras quickly zoomed in on the squirrel as it scurried about on the court. Fans watched in amusement as the determined creature attempted to jump over the advertising hoardings. After a second attempt, it successfully scaled the wall and made its escape.
Tennis Fans React with Amusement
Tennis fans watching the match from home couldn't believe their eyes as this unexpected moment unfolded. Many took to social media to comment on the squirrel's appearance, with some comparing it to the time a giant iguana halted play in Miami. Fans found the squirrel's antics cute but also expressed concern for its well-being.
Bizarre Interruptions at the US Open
This squirrel incident adds to a string of bizarre interruptions at the US Open this week. Dan Evans paused his match to remove an intruder from his player box, while Christopher Eubanks had to leave the court to tend to his stomach issues. The unexpected occurrences added an extra level of entertainment to the tournament.
