A Fed Cup performance of the German national anthem sparked outrage when a Nazi-era version of the song was performed.
The United States Tennis Association issued an apology following the incident before the Fed Cup match Saturday in Hawaii, according to The Washington Post.
The song, performed by a local opera singer, included lyrics that translate to "Germany, Germany, above all, above all in the world," which were included in a verse of the song used as Nazi propaganda, the Post reported.
Some German players were seen singing overtop of the Nazi version, singing the usual lyrics instead.
“We were left shocked and did not know how to react,” said Andrea Petkovic, one of the German players, according to the Post.
Petkovic added that she even considered walking off the tennis court in disgust, at one point, CBS News noted.
“I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone in Fed Cup, and I’ve played Fed Cup for 13 years now and it is the worst thing that has ever happened to me,” Petkovic said, according to CBS News.
Despite these remarks, Petkovic apologized the following day, saying she was still very emotional when asked questions about her feelings about the anthem.
“It was a mistake for which the Americans apologized to us,” she tweeted on Sunday, according to CBS News. “And again, it’s not the worst that ever happened to me in my LIFE. But it is the worst that happened to me in my Fed Cup life.”
“The USTA extends its sincerest apologies to the German Fed Cup team and all of its fans for the performance of an outdated national anthem prior to today’s Fed Cup competition,” the USTA said in a statement, according to The Washington Post. “In no way did we mean any disrespect. This mistake will not occur again, and the correct anthem will be performed for the remainder of this first-round tie.”
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