Coco Gauff’s fourth-round match against Sorana Cirstea at the Miami Open was halted in the third set when the umpire noticed a fan had “passed out” in the stands. Cirstea had forced a deciding set and was serving at 0-3 down in the third when the chair umpire, Jennifer Zhang, noticed a fan struggling in the stands and quickly stopped play.
Other spectators in the crowd started shouting out to grab the umpire’s attention, and it worked. She got down off her chair and told Gauff: “Sorry Coco, we need to check first.” Tournament director James Blake was also seen standing courtside. “On Centre Court, we have a lady passed out in the stands, just behind the first row, across from the chair umpire. She needs a drink or ice towel, anything,” Zhang said over her walkie-talkie.
“Looks like we’ve got something going on in the crowd here. Looks like we’re going to get a bit of medical attention for this person who is suffering,” Naomi Cavaday said on Sky Sports commentary. Miles Maclagan replied: “Not as hot as it can be. A lot of the Stadium is in shade. It’s a bit too warm for whoever is concerned, we hope that they are okay, make a quick recovery. Coco sharing out some of her sports drink.”
The umpire kicked into gear, running over to get some water and ice towels. Gauff also handed a drink to a ball boy to pass on. Zhang went to join Cirstea, who had been serving at 40-15. “I didn’t see it at first, I only saw someone pointing,” the umpire told Cirstea and others through her walkie-talkie.