Raducanu halts Cincinnati Open match as crying child prompts umpire’s decision, Sabalenka advances in tight finish
Emma Raducanu paused a Cincinnati Open third-round match on Monday after a baby in the stands began crying, prompting the umpire to ask whether the child should be removed. The moment came as Raducanu, the British 2021 U.S. Open champion, prepared to serve against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Footage shows Raducanu stopping play and gesturing with her racket as the crowd shouted in favor of removing the child, with the umpire offering to call in the request before the match continued.
The incident happened on Day 5 of the tournament amid unusually hot conditions in Ohio, where temperatures regularly topped 86 degrees Fahrenheit. In the same heat, French player Arthur Rinderknech collapsed on court during play earlier in the week, underscoring the punishing conditions players faced.
Raducanu and Sabalenka eventually played a marathon battle, with Sabalenka taking the match 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (7). Sabalenka, 27, will move on to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
As of now, it isn’t clear whether the crying child was removed from the stadium. Tournament organizers did not immediately confirm the outcome.
What it means: Raducanu’s momentary pause highlights how live sports can be impacted by in-stadium dynamics beyond the players’ control. Fans and commentators have long debated whether interruptions for crying or distracting events should pause or influence play; this incident adds another entry to that ongoing discussion.
Summary: A high-stakes Cincinnati Open match between Raducanu and Sabalenka was briefly interrupted by a crying baby in the stands, with the crowd urging removal. The match proceeded, ending in a tight three-set loss for Raducanu. The episode occurred amid extreme heat affecting several players, illustrating the broader challenges of major tennis events.
Additional note: The scenario echoes a 2011 moment when David Ferrer hit a ball toward a crying child at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, an incident that sparked discussion about players’ responses to noisy or emotionally charged environments.