US Open star reports fan to umpire after outburst during match - 'It has to stop'

Leandro Riedi has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the US Open, coming through qualifying to reach the second week. But the Swiss star had an unusual encounter with a spectator during his second-round match, whom he believed was a bettor, and decided to inform the umpire.

The world No. 435 caused a massive upset when he took out 19th seed Francisco Cerundolo in a five-set comeback victory. But during the fourth set, he thought something was off when someone in the stands started passionately cheering him on.

Riedi conceded his break lead to Cerundolo when he sent a forehand long, and then headed to his bench. According to Bounces, one spectator started shouting: "One at a time, Leandro!"

But the qualifier told them to "shut up" and then told the umpire that he thought the man in question was a bettor. He'd noticed the same person in the stands for his first-round match against Pedro Martinez.

"He's just betting for me. And now, if I lose, he will text me. He's one of these guys. Get him off. I don't want to see this guy," Riedi told chair umpire Scotty Moore.

"If I lose, he's texting me: 'You're so bad, I hope your mother dies'." According to the USTA, the man left the stands of his own accord.

Riedi went on to win 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-2, and he's since made it to the last 16. Reflecting on the incident, he told BBC Sport: "In that moment he was saying the wrong words to me.

"He was trying to be positive but for me it was like, 'Be quiet, you have nothing to do with me', you're just betting on me. He was not a Swiss guy and he was always on his phone. So for me... he's probably a bettor. In that moment I just didn't want to see or hear this guy.

"Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel I'm correct because I've experienced it enough - that he was betting. If he really is a supporter and he didn't bet then I'm truly sorry, but I have a gut feeling he was a bettor."

The Swiss tennis player has also called on tennis bodies to "stop" signing sponsorships with betting companies.

The International Tennis Federation has a deal with Stake, while the FanDuel Group is the WTA's official gaming partner, and Betway sponsors tournaments like the ATP-WTA 1000s in Miami and Madrid.

Riedi added: "Personally I think it should stop. Because the [bettors] feel like if [companies] are sponsoring tennis events then it is fine to do it."

Bettors in tennis have come to the forefront in recent months, as players are increasingly speaking out about the abuse they receive on social media after a loss, most of which they believe comes from people who have lost money betting on them.

Katie Boulter is among those who have received death threats online, while world No. 4 Jessica Pegula said the level of abuse had unfortunately become "normalised" for tennis players, and added: "I get told my family should get cancer and die from people here on a regular basis. Absolutely crazy."

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