Berlin Open forced to evacuate fans in chaotic scenes before final as statement released

Tennis fans at the Berlin Open were forced to evacuate the grounds as severe weather hampered the final day.

Jessica Pegula and Linda Noskova are due to contest the singles final of the WTA 500 tournament on Sunday.

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However, weather conditions in the German capital have disrupted the scheduling, with heavy rain delaying the start of play.

At 12:41pm local time, the Berlin Open announced that the grounds were closed and evacuated, with fans told to stay at home.

An update was issued an hour later, which stated that there will not be any tennis played until at least 4pm.

“Dear Tennis Fans, First of all, we would like to thank you for your cooperation during the evacuation of the tournament grounds. The safety of all visitors has always been, and remains, our highest priority.

“We were prepared for the forecasted weather conditions and had already initiated precautionary measures. However, the intensity and speed of the storm made additional actions necessary at very short notice.

“If any individual members of the security staff behaved inappropriately during the evacuation, we would like to sincerely apologize. Our primary focus was to clear the grounds as quickly and safely as possible.

“Our teams are currently working at full speed to restore the venue. In addition to damage to parts of the infrastructure, technical systems were also affected. Before the grounds can be reopened, all safety requirements for visitors must be fully met.

“We are also closely monitoring the weather forecast, as further developments must be taken into account when assessing whether play can safely resume.

“We will continue to provide updates via email and our social media channels. At this stage, a resumption of play is not expected before 4:00 PM. Information regarding tickets and any related arrangements will be communicated in line with developments throughout the day.

“Thank you for your understanding and patience. Your VANDA Pharmaceuticals BERLIN TENNIS OPEN Team.”

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What has happened at the Berlin Open?

With the grass court season now underway, the Berlin Open is one of the penultimate tournaments before Wimbledon.

World no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who has missed out on two Grand Slam titles this year, managed to reach the semi-finals.

However, she was beaten 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 0-6 by Pegula on Saturday in a match that experienced a rain delay.

Coco Gauff had a disappointing tournament in Berlin as she lost 6-1 3-6 2-6 in the second round to Paula Badosa, who entered as a wildcard.

The Bad Homburg Open and Eastbourne Open are the next events on the calendar ahead of Wimbledon, which begins on June 29.

Serena and Venus Williams will return to the All England Club as they earned wildcards for the ladies’ doubles event.