Bianca Andreescu angrily tells heckling fan to ‘shut up’ and REFUSES to play on until they were thrown out in first round Citi Open defeat by Marta Kostyuk in Washington DC
- The fan shouted ‘out’ in apparent mockery of Andreescu’s double fault
- Canadian player turned to the crowd and yelled ‘shut up’ as game was stopped
- Security were called to escort the heckler from the arena in Washington
Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu yelled ‘shut up’ at a heckling fan and refused to play on until they were removed from the stadium.
The heated exchange occurred during her first round match against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk at the Citi Open in Washington DC on Monday.
The spectator appeared to like it when she double faulted on serve, shouting ‘out’. Andreescu turned in their direction and yelled ‘shut up’ twice.
She refused to continue playing until the offender was escorted out of the arena.
Other fans in the arena could be heard cheering and clapping after the chair umpire intervened to call security.
Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu shouted ‘shut up’ at a spectator who cheered when she double faulted during a Citi Open match against Marta Kostyuk in Washington
Andreescu refused to continue with the match until security had escorted the heckler out
The world No 44 would go on to lose the first round match in three sets after the interruption
It was especially frustrating for Andreescu, 23, because she was knocked off her stride by the interruption at a crucial stage in the third and deciding set.
The Canadian had taken the first set 6-2 before Kostyuk won the second 6-3. The match was delicately poised at 2-2 in the third, with Andreescu on serve and behind 0-30 following her double fault.
She went on to lose the third set on a tie-break and exited the tournament at the first round stage, though was left to rue three unconverted match points.
World No 44 Andreescu beat Serena Williams to win the US Open in 2019, her only Slam success, and will be hoping for a decent run in New York later this month.
Kostyuk celebrated her victory over Andreescu to reach the second round in Washington
