‘Maybe he has a knife:’ Putintseva in tears after asking Wimbledon umpire to remove ‘crazy’ fan

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Yulia Putintseva asked for a “crazy” spectator to be removed after expressing fears that the fan had a knife during her first-round match at Wimbledon on Monday.

At the start of her match against American Amanda Anisimova on Court 15, the 30-year-old from Kazakhstan approached the umpire to report the spectator, describing the person as “crazy” and “dangerous.”

“Can you take him out because maybe he has a knife, I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy,” Putintseva said, according to the BBC.

It was not immediately clear what action was taken regarding the spectator, but play resumed after the chair umpire consulted security personnel.

A visibly emotional Putintseva lost 6-0, 6-0 in a match lasting only 44 minutes.

“Following a complaint about the behaviour of a spectator at the match on Court 15, the chair umpire informed security and the matter was dealt with,” a spokesperson for All England Lawn Tennis Club said.

Anisimova told the BBC she believed the spectator had been saying something “when [Putintseva] was about to serve,” adding, “I am sure that we were protected”.

Putintseva’s preparations for Wimbledon were hit by a fiery clash with former world No.3 Maria Sakkari at an event in Germany last week.

Sakkari completed a 7-5, 7-6 victory at the Bad Homburg Open. As the players shook hands, Putintseva was quick to take her hand away, angering Sakkari.

Putintseva, who was born in Russia, then mocked Sakkari by pretending to curtsy, which the latter took exception to, saying: “Respect me like a human being.” Putintseva fired back as she walked back to her chair: “I was being like a human being. Get over yourself.”

Sakkari asked Putintseva to repeat what she said, and the two exchanged more words before Putintseva told Sakkari to “leave her alone”.

Sakkari appeared ready to walk away, saying “f---ing hell” but after hearing another comment from Putintseva, she hit back again, repeatedly telling her: “Nobody likes you” and adding: “When you shake hands, look at the other person in the eye.”

The match umpire eventually stepped in, saying: “Ladies, please”. However, Putintseva performed another bow for Sakkari and walked off the court.

It represented the latest on-court flashpoint involving Putintseva after she was slammed last year for showing “disrespect” to a ball girl at the US Open.

With Putintseva a set and 4-2 down to Jasmine Paolini, the ball girl attempted to throw balls towards the Kazakhstani before she took serve. But the player did not attempt to catch or pick up the ball; instead glaring at the girl with her arms down by her side.

Telegraph, London

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