Coco Gauff says she prefers if climate protest didn't happen during her match

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Coco Gauff said she was not upset at the protesters who disrupted her US Open semifinals match against Karolina Muchova Thursday night, but she just preferred the demonstration did not happen in her match.

Gauff was asked about the protest that occurred in the second set against Muchova. The United States Tennis Association said four people were removed from the stadium by NYPD officers, including one who had glued their shoes to the ground at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The delay took nearly an hour.

The 19-year-old tennis phenom won the match in straight sets to become the youngest American to advance to the title match since Serena Williams. She was asked in the post-match press conference.

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Coco Gauff reacts after defeating Karolina Muchova during the women's singles semifinals of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

"I think that throughout history moments like this are definitely defining moments. I believe in climate change," Gauff explained. "I don’t know exactly what they were protesting. I know it was about the environment. I 100% believe in that. I think there’s things that we can do better. I know the tournaments are doing things to do better for the environment.

"Would I prefer it not happening in my match, 100% yeah I’m not gonna sit here and lie but you know it is what it is," she added while smiling.

Gauff said she had a feeling something would happen again given that climate protests occurred in the other Grand Slam tournaments over the course of the year.

New York Police Officers remove an environmental