Furious Coco Gauff's six words after semi-final brought to a halt 'End Fossil Fuels' by protesters

Coco Gauff's US Open semifinal showdown with Karolina Muchova came to an abrupt halt due to protests that sent Arthur Ashe Stadium into disarray. Activists sporting 'End Fossil Fuels' tees stood up during the match last year, disrupting proceedings with chants, leading to a pause in the action.

The uproar erupted while Gauff - whose 'real name' was recently discovered by fans - was up 6-4, 1-0, originating from the stadium's higher tiers. The trio of protesters loudly chanted, bringing play to a halt, with their shouting so loud that Muchova was unable to serve.

An initial attempt by a steward to settle them was blatantly disregarded, and Gauff, who made a bold announcement about her game going forward , became increasingly frustrated.

• Tennis fans uncover Coco Gauff's real name during US Open
• Coco Gauff confirms reason she will no longer play doubles with Jessica Pegula

As the demonstrators insisted on continuing, the crowd's mood turned sour, with calls to "Kick it out" ringing throughout Arthur Ashe, but the demonstrators weren't swayed. Amidst the commotion, Muchova took the opportunity to receive medical attention and eventually left the court with her equipment.

Gauff kept warm on the court, as advised by her team, while narrating the unfolding events. Yet, the chaos persisted, prompting her to gather her gear and withdraw to the workout area, reports the Express .

On her way out, Gauff remarked, "They said they're on the phone negotiating," comparing the ordeal to a hostage situation.

• Coco Gauff's emotional tribute to Andy Murray and mother Judy after Wimbledon win
• Coco Gauff breaks down in tears during heated on-court argument at Olympics

Meanwhile, the US Open's official Twitter feed reported: " NYPD are in the process of resolving a fan disturbance. Play will resume as soon as possible."

Two protesters were physically removed by security at the U. S. Open, while a third had to be surrounded by eight NYPD officers after gluing himself to the floor. After about half an hour and the protesters' removal, Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova were called back to the court, with play resuming around 45 minutes after the initial disruption.

One protester, identifying himself as Ian, explained their goal was to call out the U. S. Open for its association with big corporations that contribute to climate change.

"We are not trying to harm the athletes in any way. We have nothing against the sport, but we are really trying to draw attention to an issue here that there will be no tennis left for anybody in the world to enjoy," he said.

Despite the disturbance, Gauff remained focused and secured her victory, winning the match and advancing to the final, where she triumphed over Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam title.

There are queries about how protesters managed to infiltrate such a high-profile event and evade security. This isn't the first time that protesters have caused a ruckus.

At the British Open last year, Just Stop Oil protesters interrupted play, leading golfer Billy Horschel to intervene personally to help remove one of the troublemakers.