This video can not be played Puntintseva asks for crowd member to be removed World number 33 Yulia Putintseva has shed some light on the security concerns she raised during her first-round defeat at Wimbledon, saying a male spectator was "screaming" between her serves and that it was "political". The 30-year-old said "people nowadays are acting too crazy about many things" and she had wanted the umpire to "take him out" of the crowd. Early on in Monday's match against Amanda Anisimova, Putintseva described the fan as "crazy" and "dangerous" and later warned the umpire that "maybe he has a knife". Asked about the incident following her doubles defeat on Wednesday, she told BBC Sport: "I said it because the guy was saying something crazy. I feel like those people might be crazy, maybe not. Maybe it's just my point of view. But I was just saying 'just take him out'." She confirmed she did not know the man. Pressed on what she had heard him saying, she said: "He was actually talking about, like, political stuff. And I'm really outside of the political so I don't want anyone on my match, when they are coming to see tennis, saying anything political." The chair umpire spoke to members of security after Putintseva voiced her concerns, and a spokesperson for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said the matter had been "dealt with". The club's operations manager said security protocols were followed. The BBC understands the spectator in question left the stands on court 15 of his own accord. Asked if she thought it had been handled appropriately, Putintseva said: "I just think that people nowadays are acting too crazy about many things, and yeah, I think the security just have to be prepared. "Even [a] normal person can be dangerous at some point when they are struggling with something. So I think it's just important to have security around."
Putintseva wanted man removed for 'political' shouting
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"Yulia Putintseva Raises Security Concerns Over Spectator's Political Shouting at Wimbledon"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Yulia Putintseva, the world number 33 tennis player, recently voiced her security concerns during her first-round match at Wimbledon against Amanda Anisimova. The incident occurred when a male spectator began shouting political statements between her serves, which Putintseva described as "crazy" and potentially "dangerous." She expressed her desire for the umpire to remove this individual from the crowd, fearing for her safety and the atmosphere of the match. Putintseva stated that such behavior is unsettling, especially in a sporting environment where the focus should be solely on the game. She did not know the man personally but felt compelled to alert the umpire due to the nature of his comments, which she categorized as political and outside the realm of tennis. Following her complaints, security personnel were engaged, and the All England Lawn Tennis Club confirmed that the matter was addressed appropriately, with the spectator eventually leaving the stands voluntarily.
In her post-match interview, Putintseva reiterated her concerns about the unpredictability of individuals in public spaces, emphasizing that even seemingly normal people can exhibit dangerous behavior under certain circumstances. She highlighted the importance of having robust security measures in place at tennis matches, especially given the current societal climate where tensions can escalate quickly. Putintseva remarked, "I just think that people nowadays are acting too crazy about many things," underscoring her belief that heightened security is essential for the safety of players and spectators alike. Her experience at Wimbledon serves as a reminder of the potential risks athletes may face, not only from the competitive nature of sports but also from external factors that can disrupt the focus and enjoyment of the game.
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