A woman at the Shanghai Masters women's event flaunted her passport and screamed, disrupting the match, and was forcibly removed to applause from the audience.

The Shanghai Masters officially kicked off today, but an unpleasant incident occurred as a woman repeatedly showed off her ID and passport while screaming during the match, causing a pause. Security eventually forced her out, sparking heated discussion among fans online.

During the second match this afternoon at the central court, Italian player Berrettini was competing when a female spectator—allegedly a fan of Berrettini—brought a mixed-race child and kept loudly screaming, disrupting the match. The chair umpire warned her on site, and security tried to intervene immediately. However, she pulled out her passport and ID, repeatedly showing them to security, claiming they had no right to interfere. She then provoked security staff and engaged in physical contact with them using her hands and shoulders, forcing the match to be halted. After security escorted her child away, several officers carried the woman out of the arena, and the crowd applauded the Shanghai Masters' handling of the situation!

It is reported that the woman owns a jewelry store and is married to a Swiss national. The child she brought along is theirs. Some spectators noted that she appeared mentally unstable, behaving wildly inside the venue and constantly flaunting her passport and ID. Many tried to reason with her but were met with what seemed to be foreign language insults. Fortunately, security stopped her reckless behavior in time.

This incident has sparked intense debate on social media and is likely the first time since the Shanghai Masters began that a “disruptive fan was forcibly removed.” Opinions online are divided, mostly focusing on the issue of proper spectator etiquette among domestic fans.

Some fans commented, “The Shanghai Masters handled the emergency swiftly, precisely, firmly, briefly, fairly, and quickly. The outcome made fans applaud and feel greatly satisfied!” Others said, “Well done! This action by the Shanghai Masters sets a precedent for handling similar incidents in domestic events and shows many fans who lack proper viewing etiquette that buying a ticket does not give you the right to act wildly! The organizers have full authority to eject you!”

However, some netizens expressed concern that this incident reveals problems with Chinese spectators’ etiquette. Some compared it to the chaos at this year’s China Open, suggesting that a lack of cultural literacy and tennis culture among domestic fans is the root cause of recurring issues like this.

In contrast, some questioned the generalization, saying, “Why condemn all Chinese fans because of a few individuals? This woman is married to a foreigner; it’s uncertain if she even considers herself Chinese. Even if she is, her behavior is isolated and should not be exaggerated to represent the whole. The Shanghai Masters has been praised by many fans for years. Please don’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch!”

As Asia’s first tournament granted permanent hosting rights for the ATP1000 Masters series, the Shanghai Masters has been held in Shanghai since 2009 and has won the ATP’s Best Tournament award five times in a row. This recognition not only acknowledges its organizational capability but also its strong commitment to upholding the spirit of tennis.

When sportsmanship is disrupted by improper behavior from individual spectators, organizers face the difficult task of preserving the overall viewing experience. In this case, the Shanghai Masters committee demonstrated professionalism and decisiveness, reflecting years of accumulated event management expertise.

Since 2009, the Shanghai Masters has spent sixteen years refining every aspect—from facilities to service details, from player experience to audience conduct—each step marking the growth of tennis culture in China.

The woman who was removed may become a hot topic on social media tomorrow, but the thunderous applause from the entire audience today truly represents the maturity of Chinese tennis spectators.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)