Status: 11:09 am
Denis Shapovalov disagreed with the referee’s decision
What: REUTERS
Tennis professional Denis Shapovalov makes a violent dropout at the Masters in Rome. During his first round game he takes on the referee and the audience. The Canadian then gives a curious assessment of the fans.
Denis Shapovalov was beside himself. Opponent Lorenzo Sonego could not process his short kick serve, the return ended up out of bounds. Contrary to expectations, the Canadian was not awarded the point. Because on Sonego’s advice, referee Richard Haigh intervened. He looked at the imprint of Shapovalov’s serve again and corrected the decision. The ball was out of bounds. Point for Sonego.
It was a decision after which Shapovalov no longer got himself in his first round game at the ATP Masters in Rome. The world number 16. argued vigorously with the referee, even climbing over the net for it. A violation of the rules, which the referee punished accordingly. Because Shapovalov had previously been warned, there was a risk of losing a point.
By now, at the latest, the 23-year-old was unstoppable. “I’m not doing anything unsportsmanlike – how can you deduct a point from me,” he whispered in the direction of Haigh and demanded the use of the supervisor, in tennis a kind of referee. Unsurprisingly, this followed the assessment of the chair umpire. Shapovalov lost the point and the game was suddenly 3:5 behind in the second set. “It’s stupid. It’s so unfair,” he repeated for several minutes.
Much to the detriment of the crowd in Rome, who were already supporting local hero Sonego. Loud whistles were now directed at Shapovalovs. He lost his composure. “Shut up,” he yelled at the audience. An absurdity that may have cost him the last sympathies of the Italian audience.
“The fans love me here”
Shapovalov gave a different assessment after ultimately winning the game in 3:11 hours 7:6 (7:5), 3:6 and 6:3. “The fans love me here and I love the fans,” he said. Shortly before, he had tried unsuccessfully to have a spectator removed from the stands, whom he identified as a troublemaker.
After the game, Shapovalov’s (right) anger was gone
Quelle: Getty Images/Alex Pantling
At the latest in the second round against the Georgian Nikolos Bassilashvili it will become clear how the relationship with the fans really is. Then Shapovalov would like to cause less uproar. “I just have to take better care of myself,” admitted the Canadian, who apologized to referee Haigh after the game. It is not yet known whether he will face a penalty for his behavior.
It’s not the first time that Shapovalov has made a negative impression on the tour. Most recently, he made serious allegations against the referee at the Australian Open earlier this year during his quarter-final game against Rafael Nadal. “You’re all corrupt,” he said at the time and added after the game: “You get the feeling that you’re not only playing against your opponent, but also against the referees.”
