Bencic Avoids US Open Default After Hitting Fan, Then Falls in 3 Sets
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 2
Bencic Avoids US Open Default After Hitting Fan, Then Falls in 3 Sets
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 2
Summary
Belinda Bencic escaped default after a ball she hit behind her struck a spectator, with the chair umpire issuing only a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The umpire said the shot was unintentional and the fan was not injured, rejecting Yulia Putintseva's on-court demand for disqualification.
Putintseva challenged that reasoning by invoking Novak Djokovic's 2020 US Open default for accidentally hitting a line judge, and fans also questioned the consistency of enforcement.
Putintseva then turned the match around from 4-6 down to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, making No. 12 seed Bencic the highest-seeded women's loser so far.
The Kazakh advances to face Zheng Qinwen in the second round with a 2-0 head-to-head edge.