Alexander Zverev Steps Up After Spectator Injured by Falling Advertising Board

During his match at the Halle grass-court tournament, Alexander Zverev and an umpire provided assistance with ice after a spectator was injured by a collapsing advertising board.

The board fell from the upper tier into the audience below towards the end of the first set, hitting a 62-year-old local woman, according to tournament organisers. Zverev and umpire Renaud Lichtenstein quickly rushed to her aid, bringing ice to help with her injury.

Organisers confirmed that the spectator was able to leave the venue unaided, while holding an ice pack, which Zverev had given her to apply to her neck. She was subsequently taken to hospital for precautionary measures, they noted.

Tournament director Ralf Weber expressed his regret, stating, “An incident like this has never occurred in the 32-year history of our tournament.”

Weber met with the injured spectator at the event’s medical centre and offered her a complimentary pass for next year’s tournament.

A statement from two event managers, Udo Kleine and Uwe Greipel-Dominik, published on the tournament’s website, indicated that the screws securing the board might have come loose due to “drumming against the boards.”

Following the incident, the remaining boards were inspected before the match resumed, and a plan was set to check all other boards at that court.

Despite the unfortunate incident, Zverev went on to secure a swift 6-2, 6-1 victory against American Marcos Giron in the first round of the tournament, which serves as a lead-up to Wimbledon.

This continued the German player’s strong showing on grass, having recently finished as the runner-up in Stuttgart.

In other matches, third-seeded Daniil Medvedev defeated Quentin Halys 6-2, 7-5, while eighth-seeded Karen Khachanov overcame Zizou Bergs 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round.

Alex Michelsen triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas in a tight contest, winning 7-6 (5), 7-5, and will face Medvedev next.