MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Overzealous fans at the Australian Open's so-called “Party Court” — a venue equipped with a bar — grew so loud that a nearby match was moved to a different arena.
“When I saw the bar, I was thinking it’s going to be a pretty rowdy atmosphere,” said Jacob Fearnley, a 23-year-old from Scotland who played college tennis at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, and won the contest at the boisterous-as-can-be Court 6. “Usually they go together — a bar and a rowdy atmosphere."
While his 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Arthur Cazaux of France was going on there Wednesday night, the noise was drifting over to the adjacent Court 8, where Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain was starting his matchup with 29th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
There were chants and songs and yells and applause and foot-stomps. So at 4-3 in the first set, Davidovich Fokina and Auger-Aliassime spoke with the chair umpire about what was happening.
The chair umpire called a tournament supervisor and play was delayed for more than 15 minutes.
Eventually, the crowd was told: “Ladies and gentlemen, the match is now suspended on this court and will move to Court 7 in just a few minutes.” And the two players packed up and headed over to the new site, where Davidovich Fokina completed his 6-7 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 comeback victory.
The two-level bar at Court 6 was introduced last year and, while popular with spectators, it has been met with divided opinion from players.
Fearnley, who plays No. 2-seeded Alexander Zverev in the third round, said that eventually he got used to the way the place felt.
“As I kind of settled into the match, I kind of blocked it out as much as I could,” Fearnley said. "Obviously there was some supporters who were extremely drunk, but it was a great atmosphere. Amazing atmosphere.”
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Jacob Fearnley of Britain celebrates after defeating Arthur Cazaux of France intheir second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain plays a forehand return to Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Frederic Fontang, right, coach of Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada gestures as they talk during a break in the second round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A shooting outside a church building in Salt Lake City killed two people and injured six others Wednesday, police said.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
Dozens of people were attending a funeral inside at the time. All the victims were adults.
Police said they do not believe the shooter had any animus toward a particular faith.
“We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said.
Police also do not believe the shooting was random. Authorities said no suspect was in custody.
About 100 law enforcement vehicles were at the scene in the aftermath, and helicopters flew overhead.
“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall said.
The church was cooperating with law enforcement and was grateful for efforts first responders' efforts, a spokesperson said.
“We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind,” Sam Penrod said in a statement.
The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, and about half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents are members of the faith. Churches like the one where the shooting occurred can be found in towns throughout the city and state.
The faith has been on heightened alert since four people were killed when a former Marine opened fire in a Michigan church last month and set it ablaze. The FBI found that he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the church.
Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)
Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)
Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)
People hug each other after a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)
Funeral attendees leave a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a fatal shooting in the parking lot in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)
Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Rio Giancarlo/The Deseret News via AP)
