Environmental protests stop play at two Rome Open games

Rome: Environmental protestors stopped play at two matches at the Rome Open tennis tournament on Monday after invading courts in the Italian capital....

Rome: Environmental protestors stopped play at two matches at the Rome Open tennis tournament on Monday after invading courts in the Italian capital.

Activists from climate group Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) burst onto the Pietrangeli court, where American Madison Keys was leading Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 3-1 in the women's last 16.

Wearing orange vests, they threw a liquid onto the court and confetti before being removed by security staff.

After a half-hour stoppage to clean the court, Keys to complete her win over Romania's Cirstea 6-2, 6-1 and set up a potential quarter-final clash with world number one Iga Swiatek.

"Honestly, as soon as I saw them come over the barrier my first thought was 'should I go tackle them?'," joked Keys to reporters.