Reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki says she and her family were targets of verbal abuse and threats from the crowd during her opening match at the Miami Open, which she lost to Monica Puig.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Wozniacki said on Saturday the tournament did nothing to prevent the abuse.
Director James Blake responded that while the crowd was “loud and passionate,” Miami Open staff, WTA Tour officials and courtside security were unaware during the match of any threats made.
Wozniacki lost 0-6 6-4 6-4 on Friday night. She said she hopes the tournament takes her complaints about the crowd behavior seriously because “it’s a horrible example to set for the next generation of tennis players and fans”.