Overview

• Kalinskaya paused her round-of-16 match to tell the chair umpire that nearby spectators appeared drunk or disruptive, prompting a brief halt in play.
• The umpire’s wry reply “They probably are” was captured on video and quickly circulated across social media and sports outlets.
• After dropping the first set 3-6, Kalinskaya rallied to win the next two 7-6(5), 6-1 and secure her spot in the quarterfinals.
• The No. 28 seed will face world No. 3 Iga Swiatek, extending a head-to-head lead after her lone victory over Swiatek in Dubai 2024.
• The incident highlights concerns about crowd management and maintaining player focus during key US Open warm-up events.