A spectator was removed from the US Open after being reported by Germany player Alexander Zverev for chanting a part of the German anthem associated with the Nazi regime.
According to Zverev, the spectator chanted "Germany above everything" in the fourth set of the match against Italy's Jannik Sinner.
The first verse of the "Song of Germany," once used as the German national anthem, which starts with "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt" ("Germany, Germany above all, above everything in the world)," is historically associated with the Nazi regime and its crimes, therefore, considered unacceptable in modern German society.
The official anthem is now the same melody but only using the lyrics of the third verse, which starts with "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" ("Unity, justice and freedom").
"He started singing the Hitler anthem. That was too much," Zverev said. "As a German, I'm not proud of that part of history and it's not OK to do that."
"He was sitting in the front row, so a lot of people heard it. If I didn't react, it would have been bad from my part," he added.
Zverev reported the spectator to the chair umpire, James Keothavong, midway through the fourth set of his match against Sinner, pointing towards the stands.
"He just said the most famous (Adolf) Hitler phrase there is. This is unacceptable, this is unbelievable," he said. Keothavong had the man identified in the courtside seats of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the break that followed, with other spectators pointing in his direction.
As the score stood at 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 3-2 during the fourth set, play was halted while security escorted the spectator out of the stands. Videos posted on social media showed spectators applauding as the man was removed.
"I love it when fans are active, when they are loud. You still need to have respect," Zverev said after the match. "He's not a very smart guy. It was his loss that he didn't get to see the last two sets."
Zverev lost the fourth 4-6 but went on to clinch the game with 6-3 in the fifth set and will now meet title-holder Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter finals.
- Spectator removed
- US Open
- Nazi slogan
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
