‘Just Stop Oil’ Protesters Disrupt Wimbledon Match by Littering, Invading Tennis Court

Just Stop Oil protesters briefly interrupted at least two games on the third day of Wimbledon Wednesday (July 5) after they threw orange ticker-tape mixed with jigsaw puzzle pieces on Court 18 during a men's singles match between Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Japan's Sho Shimabukuro.

Two of the protesters ran on the court sprinkling the puzzle pieces and confetti from their boxes. One of them sat on the playing turf cross-legged while the crowd booed the protesters, some of them were even heard shouting "Get off!"

Ground staff quickly swept the court of the litter and both protesters were removed by security staff, neither of whom resisted.

The Metropolitan Police said on Twitter that a man and a woman were in their custody.

"Following an incident on Court 18, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage and these individuals have now been removed from the Grounds," Wimbledon's organizers said in a statement.

The match only resumed after a brief rain shower, where Dimitrov won 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. He will face the winner of the match between Belarusian Ilya Ivashka and Argentinian Federico Coria in the next round.

During the next match between Katie Boulter and Daria Saville, another protester disrupted the game before being taken away by security. As of this writing, Boulter won her first set against Saville, 7-6.

Previous Disruptions

Wimbledon was not the first time the climate action protesters disrupted, as they have also been present at the second Ashes cricket test at Lord's last week. They also disrupted this year's Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

The Grand National horse race was also disrupted after animal rights activists attached themselves to fences.

As for Wimbledon, Just Stop Oil reasoned their disruption on Twitter, saying the event signed "a sponsorship deal with Barclays, who have given £30 billion to oil and gas companies, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Total Energies, in the last two years."

Tennis Stars, Fans React to Protesters

Aside from courtside heckling, Just Stop Oil was also criticized on both broadcast and social media.

"This is disappointing, to say the least," wrote The Tennis Letter on Twitter. "This isn't activism. This is just odd."

All England Club board member Tim Henman told the BBC the disruptions were "frustrating" due to the event covering "18 fields of play" and accommodating 35,000 people. "We've had enough disruptions with the weather," he added, "to get a disruption like that is disappointing."

Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray also told First Sportz that, while he understands and supports the protests, he did not agree with the manner in which they are done.

Meanwhile, TalkTV presenter Ian Collins called the protesters "eco-idiots.

"It doesn't do very much...for the [environmental] cause," he added.

Tags

Wimbledon, Tennis, Bulgaria, Japan