In a tense third-round battle at the Cincinnati Open, Emma Raducanu halted her serve mid-point to express her frustration over a crying child in the stands, telling the umpire she had been disturbed for a prolonged period and signaling her desire for the situation to be addressed.
"It's been, like, 10 minutes," she told the chair umpire after retreating to the baseline. The official responded pointedly, "It's a child. Do you want me to kick the child out of the stadium?" The remark drew a ripple of reaction from the stands, with numerous spectators audibly shouting back: "Yes!"
The moment happened during Raducanu’s tense battle against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. The match lasted over three hours, with Sabalenka winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5). One of the highlights was a 23-minute game in the final set, featuring 13 deuces, where Raducanu fought hard to hold her serve.
Although she lost by just two total points (125 to 123), Raducanu showed improved form under new coach Francisco Roig. She later said she was proud to push the top player to the limit and is aiming to keep her level high for future matches.
Despite the distraction in the stands, Raducanu’s performance was seen as a positive step forward, especially ahead of the US Open.
Bizarre Scenes! Daniil Medvedev Puts Head Inside Ice Fridge To Cool Off During Cincinnati Open Loss; Video
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev had a dramatic moment during his second-round match at the Cincinnati Open 2025 when he was seen putting his head inside an on-court ice fridge to cool down.
Playing in hot and humid conditions in Mason, Ohio, Medvedev started well against Australia’s Adam Walton, winning the first set in a perfect tiebreak and hitting 41 winners, including 18 aces. But as the match went on, the heat began to affect him badly. During a changeover in the deciding set, he leaned into the ice fridge, used a wet towel, drank water, and even aimed a fan at himself to fight the heat.
Despite these efforts, the former US Open champion lost 6-7(0), 6-4, 6-1 in a surprising upset to world No. 84 Walton. The unusual scene showed just how tough the conditions were and raised concerns about Medvedev’s form ahead of the US Open.
