Tennis
Stefanos Tsitsipas won’t stand for Bee S.
The world No. 4 urged an umpire to toss a fan from the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday for apparently making a buzzing sound when he attempted to serve against American Ben Shelton.
“There’s a person imitating a bee behind me,” the Greek athlete told the umpire at the Ohio tournament, according to video from Tennis TV.
“It’s a buzz right before I serve.”
Tsitsipas, 25, then walked over to the stands and inquired about the source of the sound, with one spectator pointing the finger toward a fan in the first row.
He then returned to the umpire, who asked Tsitsipas if he knew who was making the noise.
“It has never happened in my career,” Tsitsipas said.
“I know they’re supporting the [other player].”
When Shelton, 20, asked, “What’s happened? Are they speaking to you?” Tsitsipas replied, “No, they’re imitating a bee, they’re buzzing.”
Tsitsipas alleged it was a “lady over there,” making it clear to the umpire he wanted her gone.
“I want her out. She needs to go … I’m about to serve and all I hear …,” Tsitsipas told the umpire, who instructed him to return if the fan buzzed again.
A woman in the stands could be seen moments later apologizing to Tsitsipas, with the two briefly conversing.
Tsitsipas, who reached the Australian Open final in January before losing to Novak Djokovic, defeated Shelton on Wednesday, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2).
He will face Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on Thursday in the round of 16.
The Western & Southern Open runs through Sunday, Aug. 20.
