AMY GOODMAN: Here in New York, this week’s heat wave was felt by fans and players at the US Open, where temperatures reached the mid-90s, accompanied by intense humidity. Russian player Daniil Medvedev issued a warning during his Wednesday quarterfinals match.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: You cannot imagine. One player is going to die, and they’re going to see.

AMY GOODMAN: “You cannot imagine. One player is going to die, and then they will see,” Medvedev said.

On Thursday, climate activists with Extinction Rebellion delayed a semifinal tennis match by 50 minutes between Coco Gauff and Karolína Muchová, as they stood up in the crowd and called for an end to fossil fuels. One protester glued their bare feet to the ground. Nineteen-year-old Coco Gauff eventually won the match, sending her to the finals. She’s the first American teenager to get this far since Serena Williams in 1999. The African American player was questioned about the protest following her win.

COCO GAUFF: I mean, I think that, you know, throughout history, moments like this are definitely defining moments. And I definitely, I believe, you know, that — I believe in climate change. … Hey, if that’s what they felt that they needed to do to get their voices heard, I can’t really get upset at it.

AMY GOODMAN: For a quick comment about Coco Gauff, the young Black tennis player who became the youngest to enter the US Open finals since Serena Williams like over two decades ago, and her support for the rights of the climate protesters, we’re joined by Hofstra professor Brenda Elsey, co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down. Your response?

BRENDA ELSEY: I was so thrilled. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to hear her support them. We can’t expect that from athletes all the time, but when it happens, it’s thrilling. And I think it was so interesting in the top of your show, whether it’s Nazi — you know, fighting Nazi chants being said or anything else, we’re seeing people using sports as a place to debate and to protest and to struggle, and I love it.

AMY GOODMAN: Hofstra professor Brenda Elsey, co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down. Visit democracynow.org to see our conversation with her about Spanish state prosecutors filing a criminal complaint against the head of Spain’s soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, for sexual assault and coercion after he forcibly kissed Spanish soccer star Jenni Hermoso during an award ceremony last month after the Spanish team won the Women’s World Cup. I’m Amy Goodman. Thanks so much for joining us.