Protesters steal the US Open headlines as the heat keeps rising

Coco Gauff victory in New York was overshadowed by the events.

An audience member yells at protesters (Frank Franklin II/AP)

Coco Gauff reached her first US Open final but her achievement was overshadowed by environmental protesters who forced her last-four match against Karolina Muchova to be suspended for more than 45 minutes.

Aryna Sabalenka then denied the New York crowd an all-American final by beating Madison Keys in a third-set tie-break.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at day 11 at the US Open.

Coco Gauff talks with USTA officials during the protest (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Pic of the day Match of the day <!-- EMBED START Image --><figure id="embedded225092329ca24586922914e97ffbc19a"><img src="//content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/09/08/225092329ca24586922914e97ffbc19a.jpg?w=640" alt="US Open Tennis" data-title="US Open Tennis" data-copyright-holder="AP" data-copyright-notice="Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved." data-credit="John Minchillo" data-usage-terms="This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required." srcset="https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/09/08/225092329ca24586922914e97ffbc19a.jpg?w=320 320w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/09/08/225092329ca24586922914e97ffbc19a.jpg?w=640 640w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/09/08/225092329ca24586922914e97ffbc19a.jpg?w=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px"><figcaption>Gauff is congratulated by Karolina Muchova (John MinchilloAP)</figcaption></figure><!-- EMBED END Image -->

Once the protest ended and a tennis match broke out again, Gauff completed a 6-4 7-5 victory. It was not a classic until the last four games of the second set, which were as dramatic as we have seen all fortnight.

This winner from Coco Gauff! Whoa! pic.twitter.com/bE4G0yF5fv

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2023

Shot of the day Heatstroke, not groundstroke <!-- EMBED START Image --><figure id="embedded9a41c579e63945e6bd279fc3e4fb2677"><img src="//content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/08/22/9a41c579e63945e6bd279fc3e4fb2677.jpg?w=640" alt="US Open Tennis Heat and Humidity" data-title="US Open Tennis Heat and Humidity" data-copyright-holder="AP" data-copyright-notice="Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved." data-credit="Seth Wenig" data-usage-terms="This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required." srcset="https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/08/22/9a41c579e63945e6bd279fc3e4fb2677.jpg?w=320 320w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/08/22/9a41c579e63945e6bd279fc3e4fb2677.jpg?w=640 640w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2023/08/22/9a41c579e63945e6bd279fc3e4fb2677.jpg?w=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px"><figcaption>Players, and spectators, have struggled in the heat Seth Wenig/AP)</figcaption></figure><!-- EMBED END Image -->

Once again the temperature at Flushing Meadows hit 35C, with the humidity making it feel even hotter. French doubles player Nicolas Mahut had to briefly stop playing as he felt dizzy and Rajeev Ram had to snack on some sushi mid-match.

Back-to-back champs Joe Salisbury & Rajeev Ram charge through to the @usopen FINAL 😍

#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Ln8oULt7oX

— LTA (@the_LTA) September 7, 2023

Quote of the day They say they are negotiating, like it’s a hostage situation Brit watch

Joe Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram are back in the final after beating Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in three sets.

Salisbury and Ram are looking for an unprecedented third consecutive men’s doubles crown at Flushing Meadows.

Their 7-5 3-6 6-3 win, in two-and-a-quarter hours, was a 17th successive victory in New York for the pair, who face India’s Rohan Bopanna and Australian Matthew Ebden in Friday’s final.

There was disappointment for rising British star Hannah Klugman in the juniors event.

The 14-year-old needed a medical time-out after the first set in her quarter-final against Laura Samsonova and eventually retired injured at 6-0 3-0 down.

There were wins in the wheelchair singles for Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, but Lucy Shuker won only two games against 11th seed Diede De Groot of the Netherlands.

Madison Key lost to Aryna Sabalenka (John Minchillo/AP)

Fallen seeds

Karolina Muchova (10), Madison Keys (17)

Suit up. It's business time in the Big Apple 💼@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/oisUJeTs1f

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 7, 2023

Who’s up next?

The men’s semi-finals begin with Novak Djokovic, chasing a 24th grand slam title, taking on big-serving 20-year-old American Ben Shelton.

Then, in the night session, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, also 20, faces third seed Daniil Medvedev.

Salisbury and Ram’s final kicks off the action at midday (5pm Irish time).