Halle Open Shocker: Fan Hurt by Falling Ad Board

A spectator at the Halle Open, part of the ATP 500 series, was hospitalized on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, after being struck by a falling advertising board during Alexander Zverev’s first-round match against Marcos Giron. The incident, which halted play in the first set, has been described by tournament organizers as unprecedented in the event’s 32-year history.

The Incident

The incident occurred at the OWL Arena during the match between Alexander Zverev and Marcos Giron. As Giron served at 2-5 in the first set, a section of an advertising board detached from the upper tier of the stadium and fell into the lower seating area, striking a 62-year-old woman from Halle.

Witnesses quickly alerted match officials, who immediately stopped the game to allow medical personnel to attend to the injured fan.

Immediate Response

Alexander Zverev and the match umpire, Renaud Lichtenstein, immediately rushed to help the injured spectator. Zverev provided an ice pack for her neck. The woman was able to walk out of the stadium on her own, but was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation as a precaution.

Official Statements and Apologies

Tournament Director Ralf Weber expressed deep regret over the incident, stating, “Something like this has never happened in our 32-year tournament history. We deeply regret the incident.” Weber personally visited the spectator at the hospital and offered her a complimentary pass for the following year’s tournament as a gesture of apology.

Event managers Dr. Udo Kleine and Uwe Greipel-Dominik inspected the remaining advertising boards and their fixings immediately after the incident. “We suspect that the drumming against the cushions caused screws to come loose,” they stated. “This should not happen, and we apologise. We will also check all other cushions and their fastenings immediately after the Zverev match. The safety of our spectators is our top priority.”

Zverev’s Reaction and Match Outcome

Despite the disruption, Alexander Zverev maintained his focus and went on to win the match against Marcos Giron 6-2, 6-1. The victory advanced him to the Round of 16, where he was scheduled to face Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

Tournament Safety Measures

Following the incident, organizers conducted a thorough inspection of all advertising boards within the OWL Arena to ensure the safety of spectators. They believe that vibrations from crowd noise, specifically drumming against the boards, may have caused the screws to loosen. Additional safety measures are being implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Other Matches

Despite the disruption, play continued as normal. Daniil Medvedev defeated Quentin Halys, and Alex Michelsen upset Stefanos Tsitsipas.