Russian tennis player Ivan Denisov talked about the health issues he faced during a tournament in Congo, which were caused by gunfire and smoke grenades.
The Challenger-level match in Brazzaville, where Denisov was competing, was abruptly halted due to shots fired near the court. During the second set, while Ivan (ranked 1119th in the world) was playing against Dutch athlete Guy Den Ouden, loud gunshots were heard from beyond the fence separating the court from the street.
Ivan Denisov for Match TV
Honestly, at first I didn’t even understand what was happening because we were in the middle of the match, and it was a close contest in the second set. We first heard just loud bangs, and I didn’t understand anything at that moment, as there is a tall concrete wall around the court that blocks the view. Then there were some other sounds. The first two bangs were more like gunshots, and after that, it seemed like they deployed some gas grenades. That’s when the police got involved.
Players, referees, coaches, and all staff quickly left the court. Later, footage from cameras set up at the venue showed military vehicles passing on the road by the stadium, raising clouds of smoke. According to the broadcast, there were no spectators in the stands.
