Unexpected Incident at the US Open
In an unexpected twist during an early match at the US Open in New York on Monday, the game experienced a brief halt as players searched for a lost vibration dampener from Barbora Krejcikova’s racket. The incident occurred just two points into her matchup against Canadian player Victoria Mboko. The chair umpire, Aurelie Tourte, along with Mboko and members of the audience, joined Krejcikova in the hunt for the missing accessory, ultimately labeled as playing a game of hide and seek.
Krejcikova’s Experience
Krejcikova, a seasoned competitor with two Grand Slam titles to her name, shared her experience with the incident, noting,
“This has happened to me countless times throughout my career. We lost it, and we couldn’t find it. The dampener was playing hide and seek with us, and I am glad we managed to locate it.”
The vibration dampener is a crucial tool for players, designed to diminish the vibrations felt when the ball strikes the racket strings.
Match Outcome and Player Reflections
Once the dampener was recovered, Krejcikova swiftly secured her victory with a straight-sets win, 6-3, 6-2. Despite the interruption, Mboko, who is nearing her 19th birthday, expressed her determined mindset, stating that the delay “disrupted play a little,” but she focused on regrouping to prepare for the next point.
Mboko entered the match with her right wrist heavily taped, indicating a prior injury. However, she came off a triumphant run at a tournament in Montreal, where she defeated several Grand Slam champions, including Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. Reflecting on her recent performances, she said,
“Playing against such esteemed players has been a crucial part of my development as a tennis player, giving me valuable experience to carry into future matches. Winning Grand Slams is the ultimate goal, and competing against the best is essential to that journey.”
