Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
The World No. 33 raises alarm during her first-round match against Amanda Anisimova.
Yulia Putintseva, currently ranked World No. 33, raised safety concerns regarding a spectator during her first-round match at Wimbledon on June 26, 2023.
The incident occurred while she was competing against Amanda Anisimova of the United States, with Putintseva experiencing a decisive loss of 6-0, 6-0 in just 43 minutes.
Putintseva identified the spectator as 'dangerous' and 'crazy' and requested the chair umpire to remove the individual from the stands.
She expressed her inability to continue playing until the spectator was ejected, saying, 'Can you take him out?
I’m not going to continue playing until he leaves.' Her concerns intensified as she implied potential threats, stating, 'Maybe he has a knife and he will attack after, I don’t know.'
The umpire acknowledged the complaint and informed the courtside security personnel.
Following the report, security staff were dispatched to investigate the situation.
In a subsequent statement, organizers at Wimbledon confirmed the matter was addressed after the complaint was made.
They stated, 'Following a complaint about the behaviour of a spectator at the match on court 15, the chair umpire informed security and the matter was dealt with.'
This incident follows earlier concerns surrounding player safety at tennis events.
In February 2023, a man was ejected from the Dubai Tennis Championships for exhibiting 'fixated behavior' towards British player Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu reported feeling distressed and unable to focus during her matches due to ongoing stalking incidents involving the same individual, who was blocked from buying tickets to Wimbledon.
Raducanu remarked on the protective measures taken by Wimbledon, stating, 'I know that I am not the first athlete to go through this, and I probably won’t be the last – not just as an athlete, but females in general.'
The incidents raise ongoing discussions regarding player safety and security measures at major sporting events.