Wimbledon 2025: Player requests 'crazy' spectator to leave

July 1, 2025

Yulia Putintseva was visibly uncomfortable after suggesting a “crazy” spectator may have had a knife during her Wimbledon defeat against Amanda Anisimova.

The Kazakhstan player had asked the umpire to help eject the supporter, labelling him as “crazy and dangerous.”

Putintseva first approached the umpire about the incident at the end of the third game in the first set.

According to the BBC, she said: “Can you take him out, I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy.”

Putintseva, 30, identified the man in the crowd before the umpire spoke to security staff members.

Wimbledon spectator ‘may have a knife’

Play then resumed, but Putintseva was adamant she wouldn’t continue with the spectator in the crowd. She would go on to lose the match 6-0, 6-0 in just 45 minutes.

She later added: “Take him out, because maybe he has a knife.”

Putintseva didn’t conduct media interviews after he defeat, but Anisimova told the BBC that the spectator was saying something “when Putintseva was about to serve.”

A spokesperson for the All England Lawn Tennis Club added: “Following a complaint about the behaviour of a spectator at the match on court 15, the chair umpire informed security and the matter was dealt with.”

Controversy surrounding Yulia Putintseva

It was only a week ago that a clip emerged on social media of Putintseva involved in an on-court row with opponent Maria Sakkari.

Sakkari won the match 7-5,7-6 and the pair went to shake hands at the net. Putintseva quickly moved her hand away, which frustrated the Greek player.

Putintseva then sarcastically curtsied, to which Sakkari responded: “Respect me like a human being.”

She then responded: “I was being like a human being. Get over yourself.”

More dialogue was had in front of the umpire’s chair, and with neither player keen for the other to have the last word, Sakkari said: “Nobody likes you. When you shake hands, look at the other person in the eye.”

Last year, at the US Open, she was booed by the crowd for disrespecting a ball girl.

The ball girl attempted to hand Putintseva a number of balls, but she simply just stood and let the balls hit her – instead just staring at the girl.

Aryna Sabalenka is the current 5/2 favourite to win Women’s Wimbledon, ahead of Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, according to Irish betting sites. Emma Raducanu, who progressed to the second round, is an outside 80/1 shot.