'Take him out': Yulia Putintseva refuses to play over safety concerns during Wimbledon first-round defeat

Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva had to deal with a difficult situation during her opening round encounter at Wimbledon 2025. The third Grand Slam of the year started officially on Monday.

Putintseva suffered a thumping defeat against America’s Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. During the match, before the start of the fourth game in the first set, Putintseva had an awkward moment as she asked the authorities to eject a player from the stands after feeling unsafe.

"Can you take him out, I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy," she said as quoted in a report by the BBC. “Take him out, because maybe he has a knife.

In the same report, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) issued a statement clarifying that the individual in question was removed from the squad. "Following a complaint about the behaviour of a spectator at the match on court 15, the chair umpire informed security and the matter was dealt with,” said the statement.

Earlier, the AELTC chief executive, Sally Bolton, also spoke to the BBC and ensured that the organisers had things under control, at least as far as security is concerned. "We're well-versed in the measures that need to be put in place so players can go about playing here in the confidence they're being well looked after,” said Bolton. It was Putintseva’s 16th defeat in 31 matches this year. On the other hand, her opponent, Anisimova, will face Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the next round of the competition on Wednesday.