US Tennis apologizes after playing Nazi-era German anthem
US Tennis has apologized to German players after playing a since-removed stanza of the German national anthem that had been associated with the Nazi regime in the Fed Cup opening ceremony yesterday. Germany's Andrea Petkovic led the players' outrage against the blunder but received a prompt apology.
The version played at the ceremony included the first stanza which reads "Deutschland, Deutschland uber
Unfortunately, the soloist on the Hawaiian island of Maui somehow sung the wrong
Germany's Andrea Petkovic, Bosnia-born, was livid at the press conference and said that she considered walking off the court when it happened.
"I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I've never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone in Fed Cup," she said.
Petkovic later said her comments had been somewhat emotional.
"We were left shocked and did not know how to react," Petkovic said.
She also later tweeted saying, "It was a mistake for which the Americans
Ein Versuch der weniger emotionalen Erklärung bzgl. der gestrigen Hymnen Geschichte. Ich denke, es setzt Dinge besser in Perspektive: pic.twitter.com/MSh3XNPpoZ
— Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) February 12, 2017
German team coach Barbara Ritter also slammed the blunder and said that it was "an absolute scandal, a disrespectful incident and inexcusable".
German tennis federation chief Ulrich Klaus acknowledged the apology and said, "Our American hosts at the Fed Cup opening in Hawaii made a mistake that should not happen," in a statement.
"The fact that in the year 2017 a wrong anthem can be played that is associated with the horror of the past was for players and staff and the officials present both shocking and disturbing."
"The USTA through its president Katrina Adams has
Riske won the opening rubber to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Bad weather prevented any further play on the opening day of the tie.