Wednesday, November 29, 2023
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    ‘We paid, we will close’, fans stuck in stadiums as Covid curfew imposed


    New Delhi. The French Open quarter-final match between Serbian player Novak Djokovic and Berrettini was delayed by about 22 minutes. However, the delay is due to the curfew imposed due to the Covid-19 virus. Around 11am local time, thousands of spectators were evicted from the stadium court due to the coronavirus curfew.

    Pandemic restrictions were eased slightly on Wednesday to allow 5,000 spectators at Court Philippe-Chatrier instead of 1,000 for previous matches, according to the AP report. By the time this rule came into effect, the environment looked better. ‘It was awkward for the fans here,’ said Djokovic after a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5) 7-5 quarter-final win to reach his 40th Grand Slam semi-final on Wednesday night. Then the atmosphere was a little different (later).’

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    Due to the Corona curfew, the audience has to face the problem. Some in the audience got angry and together they sang the song – ‘Hum paye dee, hum to rukhenge’. As the curfew was around 10:45 pm, many spectators refused to go out of the stadium. Later, shortly before 10:55 p.m., the two players packed their bags and left as fans screamed in frustration. Top seed Djokovic then led 2-1 and took a 3-2 lead in the fourth set when play was briefly halted.

    Berettini greeted the crowd shortly before the players left. The big-hitting Italian said he could feel the audience’s pain. “I think it’s a shame, it’s something I didn’t like but you can’t do anything about it,” ninth-seeded Berrettini said of the curfew.

    Within minutes the main stadium was completely evacuated. However, two angry fans argued that they had the right to remain until security officers removed them at 11:10 p.m.

    Tags:, French Open 2021, game news



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