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Czech tennis star Karolina Muchova needed to rally against her Romanian opponent, Sorana Cîrstea in the second round of the U.S. Open.
Muchova was down 4-1 in the second set on Thursday when she needed to briefly halt the match. She began to get emotional and admitted after the match it was because she saw her ex-boyfriend sitting in the crowd.
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Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, reacts after defeating Soraya Cirstea, of Romania, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
She rallied to defeat Cîrstea in three sets.
“Well… it wasn’t tennis-related,” she told reporters after the match, via The Athletic. “So l don’t really like talking about it. But opposite my bench, my ex-boyfriend sat down. He sometimes shows up at places where he shouldn’t be. That startled me a bit. I told him to leave, he didn’t, but later he did go. It was hard to focus in that moment.”
Muchova hadn’t mentioned the man to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) or the United States Tennis Association (USTA) before the tournament began and hasn’t done so after Thursday’s incident, The Athletic reported.
Tennis players can request certain spectators to be blacklisted from ticket sales or being able to receive credentials. An alleged stalker of Emma Raducanu appeared at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February. The man was blacklisted from purchasing tickets for Wimbledon.
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, returns a shot during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
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Muchova said Saturday after moving on to the round of 16 that she was doing well and didn’t report the person to tennis officials.
“Player safety is a critical element of our planning and execution for the U.S. Open,” a USTA spokesperson told the outlet. “Our comprehensive security plan includes protocols and procedures for effective risk mitigation and issue management. We work closely with the ATP, WTA, ITF, ITIA and the other Grand Slam events to stay informed of all relevant situations and concerns.
“The U.S. Open is in constant communication with local and federal law enforcement, who also maintain a presence at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. We utilize both physical and technological means throughout the event to monitor and maintain security, including online threats to players.”
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, reacts after defeating Venus Williams, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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Muchova went as far as the semifinals at the U.S. Open two years in a row. She was ranked No. 13 going into the tournament.
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