Coco Gauff halts match for medical emergency as Italian Open umpire makes announcement | Tennis | Sport

Coco Gauff’s semi-final match at the Italian Open has been halted after the No. 3 seed noticed an issue in the stands. The American led Sorana Cirstea by a set, and Cirstea was serving at 2-3 in the second when Gauff realised something was wrong. The chair umpire immediately called for doctors and told the crowd that play would be halted while the spectator in question awaited medical attention.

“This is Marija from centre court. It’s upper level on the right side, we need a doctor,” umpire Marija Cicak said over her walkie-talkie. Commentator Naomi Cavaday told Sky Sports viewers: “Seems like there’s a medical emergency in the crowd now. It was actually Gauff who spotted it in the crowd, a commotion up there.

“We’re just going to have to wait for a moment whilst medical attention gets up there. I think it’s right at the top as well, this is a very steep stadium, it just takes some time. We do just have a slight delay as we wait for this one.”

Gauff sat at her bench as Cicak came down off her chair, also calling Cirstea to the side of the court. Both players then took the opportunity to speak with their teams.

Tim Henman was sitting courtside, and said: “The stadium is full at the top, so hopefully the person in question is okay, and they can get the medical attention as quickly as possible, and everyone is okay.”

Cameras cut to the upper section of the stands, as Cavaday added: “We just get a glimpse of the area where they’re waiting for medical help, it does look like they’re still waiting at the moment.”

Cirstea continued speaking to her coaches, while Gauff returned to the side of the court, standing alongside the umpire and watching what was happening in the stands. There had already been plenty of momentum shifts in the match, as the American came back from a break down in the first set to win it 6-4.

She then led by a break in set two before Cirstea got back on serve. And Jamie Murray told viewers that the delay would affect the momentum even more. “It’s the unknown of, ‘How long are we going to be stopped for? When are we going to be playing again? Am I going to cool down? Am I going to lose my rhythm, my adrenaline, my momentum in the match?’” he explained.

The former doubles No. 1 wasn’t wrong. When play finally resumed a few minutes later, Cirstea was immediately broken. But Gauff, who finished runner-up last year, couldn’t pull away with it, and the 26th seed broke back again.

The rollercoaster continued and there was a third successive break as Gauff put herself ahead again and gave herself the opportunity to serve for a place in the final. And she got the job done, closing out a 6-4 6-3 victory to reach Saturday’s championship match.