Wuhan Open match interrupted as fan rushes to Jessica Pegula in bizarre scenes
There were bizarre scenes at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday, as a fan rushed over to get an autograph from Jessica Pegula in the middle of her clash with Jelena Ostapenko. The No. 2 seed led Ostapenko by a set and a break when the Latvian called the physio and received a three-minute medical timeout. And Pegula used the interruption to speak to her coach, who was sitting courtside. But one spectator thought it was an opportunity to approach the American.
Pegula had raced through the opening set and then saved a break point early in the second before breaking to lead 3-2. Ostapenko then called the physio during the changeover, pointing to her arm, and was allowed a three-minute medical timeout to have it strapped up.
During an opponent’s toilet break or medical timeout, a player is able to go over to their box and speak to their coach during the delay, and the No. 2 seed took the opportunity to do just that. But what she couldn’t anticipate was that one fan would also try to seize that opportunity to get an autograph.
“It does mean that Pegula can go and have a chat with her coach. I think this is probably more to keep herself occupied,” Naomi Cavaday told viewers, just as one fan ran to the front of the stands clutching a permanent marker and a hat she wanted signed.
The American waved them off, indicating that she was in the middle of the match – and a discussion with her coach – and couldn’t sign anything in that moment. “Certainly not signing an autograph!” co-commentator Colin Fleming explained.
I mean, that is an audacious attempt there, isn’t it? Mid-match. Trying to pounce, but have to wait.” While he wasn’t impressed with the spectator’s attempt to get Pegula to sign her hat, he did like the coach’s guidance. Fleming added: “Good advice from the coach there. Variety on the second serve, forehand body if possible. Couldn’t agree more.
Pegula headed back to her bench and then to the baseline as the physio finished bandaging up Ostapenko’s arm. And the medical timeout helped the 2017 French Open champion, who immediately broke to level the score at 3-3. But the match turned into a rollercoaster, and both women kept breaking each other.
Never seen anything like it
That certainly was unusual. It’s standard practice for a player to approach their own box when one of their rivals has forced a break in play, whether they’re off changing their clothes or seeing the physio. Carlos Alcaraz did that when Zizou Bergs took a toilet break in Shanghai a couple of days ago. But I’ve never seen anything like that.
Pegula is probably one of the most chilled players on the tour, though, and she handled it like a champ, laughing it off with her coach. The fan also seemed to quickly realise that they had pushed it by asking for an autograph. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. But not in the middle of a match! It’ll be interesting to see what the No. 2 seed says about this later on. She co-hosts The Players Box Podcast with some fellow WTA stars, and it seems like the type of anecdote she’ll be sharing.
