Betting Spectators Disrupt Matches at the US Open

Players at the US Open have reported that individuals who have placed wagers on matches are taking seats close to the court and verbally pressuring competitors. Lehecka believes the fan was betting on his loss and attempted to influence the outcome. Similar incidents have been noted at the Italian Open and on lower-level World Tennis Tour events, where smaller venues make it easier for bettors to sit near players. The Guardian’s coverage notes that the issue is “especially… in Europe,” and that it affects all tiers of professional tennis.

The Guardian

Responses among players vary. Lehecka said he asked the chair umpire whether the behavior was permissible, receiving a limited response that the umpire could intervene only if the spectator became abusive. Filip Musetti argued that governing bodies must improve security to keep such spectators away. Jakub Mensik and American No. 21 Tommy Paul took a more resigned view, suggesting that bettors are now a regular part of the sport that players must learn to ignore.

The Guardian

Current rulebooks of the ATP, WTA and the Grand Slam tournaments contain no provisions specifically targeting disruptive bettors in the stands. Umpires are authorized to act only when a spectator becomes abusive, leaving players with limited recourse. The US Open’s own app has even promoted betting-related content through push notifications for articles sponsored by Kalshi, highlighting a tension between the tournament’s commercial interests and player welfare.

The Guardian

• “There was a guy who sat just behind my bench on a smaller court, court four, and he was talking to me basically for the first three sets, like non-stop,” — Jiri Lehecka

The Guardian

• “In that moment, I took it as a motivation, but just out of curiosity, I spoke to the chair umpire and I was like: ‘Do you think this is normal? Can you do something with that?’” — Jiri Lehecka

The Guardian

• “I think that we can see this, basically, I don’t want to say in every tournament, but in many tournaments, especially in Europe,” — Lehecka. While

The Guardian

These firsthand accounts illustrate the growing friction between betting culture and on-court competition, underscoring calls for clearer policies to protect athletes from spectator interference.

The Guardian