It is not unusual to witness a competitor erupt in anger on the court, but Riedi’s outburst, directed at someone while speaking in his first language, proved to be something else.
The event, initially noticed and shared by Bounces, external, took place during a crucial juncture in his second-round victory over Francisco Cerundolo, the 19th-seeded player from Argentina.
Riedi had dropped the initial two sets before securing the third, but had just surrendered a break he had previously earned in the fourth.
One specific individual – whom Riedi had also observed during his first-round triumph against Pedro Martinez of Spain – was positioned in the corner of the court and was the target of his discontent.
“At that point, he was uttering inappropriate remarks to me,” Riedi, who has been subjected to online harassment from gamblers, revealed to BBC Sport.
“He was attempting to be encouraging, but to me it felt like ‘be silent, you have no involvement with me’, you are merely wagering on me.
“He wasn’t Swiss and was constantly on his phone. So, in my view… he is likely a gambler.
“At that moment, I simply didn’t want to see or listen to this person.”
Following his outburst, Riedi informed chair umpire Scotty Moore about his concerns.
Riedi asserts that both Martinez and Cerundolo – who could not be reached by BBC Sport – also believed the spectator was a gambler.
The individual exited the court by “his own choice”, according to the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and was not escorted out by security personnel.
“Perhaps I am mistaken, but I believe I am correct because I have experienced it sufficiently – that he was gambling,” Riedi stated.
“If he genuinely is a supporter and did not gamble, then I sincerely apologize, but I have a strong feeling he was a gambler.
“I told the umpire that if I lose, this individual will send a message saying ‘I hope your mother dies’. This has occurred far too frequently.”
