ARYNA SABALENKA was handed a code violation warning by the umpire during a tense third set against Coco Gauff.
The world No1 took on US favourite Gauff in the Miami Open final at Hard Rock stadium.
The pair have engaged in several fierce battles in the past, not least the two Grand Slam finals in which Gauff has beaten Sabalenka.
And despite the Belarusian comfortably winning the first set 6-2 on Saturday, their latest contest also proved to be eventful.
As she so often does, Gauff dug in to drag Sabalenka into a hard fought tussle, and managed to pinch the second set 6-4 by breaking in the 10th game.
Sabalenka subsequently began the third set by breaking Gauff in the very first game.
Gauff, who hails from Florida and even commutes into the Miami Open from her own home, understandably received huge support from the crowd – with some of it threatening to go too far.
With Sabalenka serving at 3-2 in the third, a spectator screamed “Out!” mid point – much to the bemusement of umpire Tom Sweeney.
The Australian quipped: “We don’t need you to make calls, we have computers to do that.”
In addition to telling off the crowd, Sweeney also handed Sabalenka a code violation for an audible obscenity.
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During the very next game, with Gauff serving, Sweeney threatened to have a rowdy fan thrown out.
He said: “Please, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve come this far.
“Let’s let the players serve. Do not shout out during the serve. Please, if you want to stay, please stop shouting.”
Despite her umpire warning, Sabalenka held her nerve to win the third set 6-3 – completing the Sunshine Double in the process.
During her champion’s speech, the four-time Grand Slam champion referenced a heckler from the crowd.
She said: “I don’t know where you are… That lady that yelled, that hoped for the ‘out’.
“I shouldn’t be that rude, but come on, you cannot do that, you know? So let’s agree we were both wrong, so sorry.
“And thank you, guys, for an incredible atmosphere, you always bring incredible vibes and a full stadium for our final, thank you so much.”
