Grand slam wham bam! Moment spectator brawl interrupted play at U.S. Open

There might be the occasional flare-up on court - but it was on the genteel stands of the Arthur Ashe Stadium that the real action took place yesterday.



Police were forced to escort three fans out of the U.S. Open after a fight broke out during Novak Djokovic's match against Philipp Petzschner.

The second round match was halted in the eighth game of the first set after the brawl kicked off - apparently when a female spectator and her father took exception to another fan's swearing.

Argument: Tracey Falco and her father Lawrence Burnett took offence of Joseph Pedeville during Novak Djokovic's match against Philipp Petzschner at the U.S. Open

Fight: Mr Burnett grabs Mr Pedeville after he continued to swear at his daughter

Tumble: Mr Burnett and Mr Pedeville tussle and fall down two rows of seats after the row involving Ms Falco. All three were later handcuffed and led away

Third-seed Djokovic and Petzschner stopped playing and looked up into the stands while New York police handcuffed the fans and led them out of the stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier said afterwards there had been a 'disagreement over verbiage' during the game on Thursday.

Reports suggest the woman, in her 40s, and her father confronted a male fan who was 'swearing and acting obnoxiously'.

Confrontation: Ms Falco launches at Mr Pedeville after taking exception to his continual swearing during the match

Tennis brawl: Mr Pedeville is grabbed by security guards while people in the crowd chant for him to be thrown out after the row

Fists stop play: No one was hurt in the clashes but the trio were handcuffed and led away by police

Police claim the man was unhappy at their feedback and continued to swear at the pair. The woman then slapped the male fan before her father and the man tussled and fell over two rows of seats. The trio were later handcuffed and led away from the stadium. None of the fans were arrested and instead were told not to return to the U.S. Open for the foreseeable future. Widmaier later attempted to play down the incident, stating: 'It was a hot night in New York. Things happen.'

Djokovic went on to beat 52nd seed Philipp Petzschner of Germany 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).



He will next play wild-card entry James Blake of the United States in the third round.

And Britain's No.1 Andy Murray takes on 113rd seed Dustin Browne of Jamaica in their second round match tonight at 8pm (BST).

Game on: After the delay, Djokovic (left) went on to beat Petzschner (right) in straight sets to progress to the third round





Watch a video of the fight below: