The late-night crowd on Louis Armstrong Stadium did its job in the wee hours on Sunday morning, successfully encouraging the removal of two hecklers.
The fans chanted “Kick them out,” after the hecklers repeatedly went at Jakub Mensik, who stopped play in the fourth set before the ill-behaved pair left the stadium.
Security removed one fan in a blue shirt, and another fan in a green shirt left of his own volition. The former raised his arms in celebration while being led out.
The triumphant moment was short-lived for Mensik, who blew a two-set lead to lose to American Learner Tien in a 6-3, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 marathon.
“I want to thank everyone for staying this late,” Tien said after the match. “I think if this stadium was empty, I’m really not sure if I’d win this match tonight. I’m very, very grateful for everyone who stayed tonight. Thank you.”
Fan behavior has been an unfortunate story throughout the U.S. Open, with influencers being criticized for creating content during play and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka getting distracted by the stench of weed during her match.
Tien, 20, will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the Round of 16 and has become the youngest American man to reach that feat at the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick in 2002.
A win would match his best ever result at a major, as the Irvine, Calif. native made the quarterfinals in Australia earlier this year, becoming the youngest man to do so since 2015.
It’s been an excellent year for Tien, who won his second ATP title in Geneva in May and has ranked as high as 12th in the world.
With an upset-riddled US Open, the draw is set up well for Tien, who would not face anyone seeded higher than him until at least the semifinal, where No. 1 Alexander Zverev will likely wait.
