Monday night at the US Open, Danielle Collins played a controversial match against Aryna Sabalenka.
During the second set, as the American prepared to serve, a bug was annoying her.
The insect was taken care of by a ball person, who carried it away rather of killing it.
Something is being loaded.
NEW YORK — The rowdy spectators, stormy weather, and city sounds of Flushing Meadows have provided numerous diversions for tennis’ top players at the 2022 US Open.
Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, American Danielle Collins had to contend with another another source of interference during her match against World No. 6 Aryna Sabalenka.
As the runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open approached the baseline prior to her first serve game of the second set, she noticed a cockroach crawling around her foot. She attempted to move it out of harm’s way with the racket’s head, but the insect refused to leave.
As Collins prepares to serve, a US Open ball worker attempts to remove a bug from the ball.
COREY SIPKIN/AFP courtesy of Getty Images
A member of the ball staff rushed out to offer Collins help. The US Open employee, while squatting on the hard court and holding two tennis balls in his left hand, sought to capture the insect instead of squashing it.
According to ESPN analysts, Collins is a well-known animal lover with a reputation for ensuring that insects are “properly shifted” when she plays.
Last week, we witnessed this occur during one of her matches, as stated by pundit Ted Robinson. “She performed the same action with an insect that she ensured was transferred correctly and safely. Relocation.”
He said, “I’m not sure the ball folks are trained for this.”
Collins serves during the fourth round of the US Open in 2022.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Athletics
After a few attempts, the ball person was able to convince the insect to fly away, and play resumed. Collins, who had won the first set, went on to lose the match 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, ending her best-ever run at the US Open in the fourth round.
Sabalenka meets Czech tennis star Karolna Plková in Wednesday’s semifinals, and the virus may return to Ashe owing to Collins’ generosity.
View the video clip below:
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September 6, 2022