Unexpected Delay at U.S. Open: Krejcikova's Racket Adventure

New York, Aug 26 (AP) One of the early matches at the U.S. Open encountered an unusual delay due to an unscheduled game of hide and seek.

A vibration dampener detached from two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova's racket during the initial points of her match against Canadian Victoria Mboko. Chair umpire Aurelie Tourte, Mboko, crowd members, and security personnel joined Krejcikova in her search.

“It’s happened to me quite a few times in my career,” Krejcikova stated. “We lost it, and finding it was a bit of a challenge. The dampener seemed to be playing a game with us, so everyone joined in searching for it, and I’m pleased we eventually located it.” Krejcikova, who clinched Wimbledon last year and the French Open in 2021, appreciated the collective effort, acknowledging it as “nice from all of them” to aid in retrieving the dampener, an essential tool for players to mitigate the impact of ball vibrations on their rackets.

Once the dampener was found, the 29-year-old Czech advanced with ease, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Mboko, approaching her 19th birthday on Tuesday, attempted not to let the approximately six-minute stoppage disrupt her focus.

“It did disrupt play somewhat,” Mboko commented. “I think it was okay though. I tried to center myself and refocus, as the search took quite a bit of time. After it concluded, I aimed to regroup. It was a brief pause, but I ensured staying active and prepared for the next point.” She played with her right wrist heavily taped due to a previous injury. Recently, she won a tournament in her home country, Montreal, overcoming Grand Slam champions like Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Sofia Kenin during her journey.

“I feel quite pleased having the chance to compete against such accomplished players. It's crucial for my development as a tennis player and adds invaluable experience for future matches.” Mboko stated. “They have won Grand Slams, and that’s my ultimate goal as well.” (AP)

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