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US Open Crowd Shocks Rybakina Post-Match
12 Sep
Summary
- Coco Gauff lost to Elena Rybakina in US Open semi-finals.
- Rybakina faced a near-empty stadium for her interview.
- Brad Gilbert criticized fans for leaving too soon.

Elena Rybakina defeated Coco Gauff in the US Open semi-finals, a victory marked by controversy surrounding the crowd's conduct. Despite a first-set win by Gauff, Rybakina ultimately prevailed. Following the match, Rybakina's post-match interview was notably attended by a sparse crowd, as most fans departed shortly after Gauff's loss.
Former coach Brad Gilbert and WTA player Ajla Tomljanovic discussed the incident on a podcast, expressing shock and calling the behavior disrespectful. Gilbert pointed out the speed at which the stadium emptied, questioning the fans' respect for the winner. Tomljanovic echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that such treatment was unexpected, especially towards a new world number one.
Gilbert also analyzed Gauff's performance, identifying issues with her forehand in the second and third sets. He suggested Rybakina exploited this weakness, leading to numerous unforced errors from Gauff. Rybakina is now set to face Aryna Sabalenka in the women's singles final, aiming for her third Grand Slam title.