Video: Climate change activist lights himself on fire at Laver Cup ahead of final match of tennis legend Roger Federer's illustrious career
A climate change activist disrupted the 2022 Laver Cup by lighting himself on fire only hours before tennis legend Roger Federer was set to compete in the final match of his illustrious career.
A climate change activist set himself on fire during the Laver Cup. The disturbing disruption occurred in the middle of the match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Diego Schwartzman at the O2 Arena in London, England.
The climate change activist was wearing a white shirt that said: "End UK private jets."
He managed to get on the tennis court, sat on the ground, and lit his right arm on fire with a lighter. There was also a small flame on the tennis court.
The protester was quickly removed from the court by security guards who also put out the blaze.
The publicity stunt delayed the start of the second set between Tsitsipas and Schwartzman.
Sports journalist Sam Street shared a video of the self-immolating man.
(WARNING: Graphic images)
\u201cA man has set his arm on fire after invading the court at the Laver Cup on Roger Federer's last day as a professional tennis player.\u201d— Sam Street (@Sam Street) 1663946899
\u201cA climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 23 September 2022. \ud83d\udcf8 epa / Andy Rain \n \n#climatechange #lavercup #O2Arena #protest #fire #epaimages\u201d— european pressphoto agency (@european pressphoto agency) 1663946752
The Laver Cup released a statement on the incident, "A man accessed the court this afternoon and was promptly removed by security. Play was stopped briefly, he has been arrested and the situation is being handled by the police."
Tsitsipas – the runner-up at the 2021 French Open – told reporters after the fiery incident, "It came out of nowhere ... I never had an incident like this happen on court. I hope he's all right."
Tsitsipas would go on to a 6-2, 6-1 victory – providing Team Europe with a 2-0 lead over Team World.
The climate change activist's self-immolation happened only hours before the heavily-anticipated final match of tennis legend Roger Federer.
Federer – who has captured 20 Grand Slam men's singles titles – is scheduled to compete in his final match of his legendary career in a doubles match with longtime rival Rafael Nadal against American tennis players Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
In June, a 22-year-old climate change activist named "Alizée" chained her neck to the tennis net and attempted to glue herself to the clay court at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. The environmental activist was wearing a doomsday climate shirt that read: "We have 1028 days left."
The woman's shirt promoted the French climate change alarmist organization Dernière Rénovation – which claims, "We are the last generation capable of preventing a climate collapse."
\u201cA 22-year-old climate activist ran onto the court during the French Open and tied her neck to the net in Paris on Friday before being carried out by security. The climate activist group Derni\u00e8re R\u00e9novation claimed responsibility for the protest.\u201d— CBS News (@CBS News) 1654361412