Hilarious Scene Unfolds As ’Cotton Eye Joe’ Interrupts Crucial Point in Tennis Match

The semifinal between two of the top players in the field was put on pause very suddenly on Saturday.

Sports fans can definitely chalk a Saturday occurrence at the National Bank Open up under the category of “something you don’t see everyday”—or should we say hear everyday.

During play of the semifinal match in Montreal between Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek, an American country folk song was suddenly blasted over the speakers. 

In the tiebreak of a close second set, the popular song “Cotton Eye Joe” rang out, interrupting play at a pivotal point of the match. Świątek was serving down 4–3 in the tiebreak after losing the first set 6–2, when play was halted.

Iga Swiatek & Jessica Pegula had to replay a crucial point at 3-4 in the 2nd set tiebreak

Music started playing during the point.

Jess ended up losing the set & she did not win a point for the rest of the tiebreak. pic.twitter.com/hwVBRdDoig

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 12, 2023

The umpire, who could clearly be heard yelling “let” when the song kicked in, forced the point to be replayed. After the interruption, Świątek dominated the rest of the tiebreak, forcing a third set.

In the final set, Pegula—the daughter of Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula—would rally from down 4–2 in the final set, and win the match 6–2, 6–7, 6–4.