Crashed drone interrupts Pennetta-Niculescu match at U.S. Open

Ava Wallace | USA TODAY

NEW YORK — There are no corn fields or crop circles in the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but an unidentified flying objected visited Louis Armstrong Stadium on Thursday.

The USTA confirmed a drone crashed into seats in Armstrong Stadium towards the end of No. 26 Flavia Pennetta’s second-round win against Monica Niculescu, prompting security and members of the New York Police Department to halt play as they investigated the device.

"No spectators were in the immediate area of the crash and there were no injuries," the USTA said in a statement. "The NYPD responded and is conducting an ongoing investigation.

The drone flew over Grandstand before it flew into Armstrong Stadium.

"I was a little bit scared, I have to say," Pennetta said. "I mean, with all the things that happen now in the world, I’m imagining, 'OK, it’s a bomb.' That was my first reaction. I think it’s normal to think something like that.

"I was trying to (keep playing). I saw the police there watching and everything."

After play continued police officers entered the stadium — when Pennetta led 5-4 in the second set — and stood over the drone, which appeared to be the size of one consumers can buy for personal use, about the width of a pizza box.

The sound of the crash visibly startled both players. Both were wobbly on serve toward the end of the contest, but Pennetta served out the match to win 6-1, 6-4.

Follow Ava Wallace on Twitter @AvaRWallace.

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