Australia’s Daria Saville was heading for a fairytale first round victory at Wimbledon when a protester stormed the court armed with orange puzzle pieces and confetti.
The incident came at the worst possible timing for the Aussie, who was leading 4-2 against Britain’s Katie Boulter in the first set tie-break when play was disrupted.
The protester, a member of the Just Stop Oil group, was hauled away by security and bizarrely given medical treatment court-side as both players helped clean up the mess.
In front of a roaring home crowd, Boulter went on to win the next five points to take the first set before racing away with a comfortable straight sets victory (7-6, 6-2).
It was a tough pill to swallow for Saville, who was a big underdog in one of her first games back after spending eight months out with a serious ankle injury.
Saville admitted the interruption at such a crucial time in the match rocked her concentration.
“These were the toughest circumstances I have had to deal with, I thought I would help pick up the pieces: it was nice to focus on picking up the pieces rather than stewing on ‘what I am going to play next?’ Or ‘how to play the next point’,’’ she said.
When asked if the incident was upsetting, she replied: “It was. I was like ‘Oh, my God, why on my court out of all of them?’ and I’m the worst with being able to refocus.”
Earlier, protesters from the same group disrupted a match between Sho Shimabukuro and Grigor Dimitrov at around 2pm London time (11pm AEST).
Protesters threw orange coloured confetti and jigsaw pieces onto the court and then sat on the grass.
Play was briefly suspended while they were removed and staff picked up the mess.
Two men and a woman, all wearing T-shirts with “Just Stop Oil” printed on them, were later arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.
The fact the protest occurred at all will be an embarrassment to Wimbledon officials who had been checking all bags with airport style security to get into the venue.
“Every year we work with the Metropolitan Police and other agencies in planning for the Championships,” chief executive Sally Bolton told the BBC in April.
“Our arrangements for security are planned around those and that is an ever-changing environment.
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“Our grounds conditions that apply to everyone are very much about the safety and security of everyone attending, but more importantly the enjoyment of everyone attending.”
Last week, three members of Just Stop Oil were arrested at Lord’s cricket ground on day one of The Ashes second test.
They also brought London’s LGBTI Pride parade to a standstill on Saturday by sitting down in front of a Coca-Cola float.
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