Tom Wood
Tennis player Denis Shapovalov shouted at the crowd during what can only be described as a tantrum following a decision at a tournament in Italy.
Professional tennis players are well-known for their short fuses, from John McEnroe losing his rag with umpires, through Novak Djokovic whacking balls at the line judges, to Andy Murray’s generally sullen on-court demeanour.
However, this time it’s the Canadian world number 16 Denis Shapovalov who has caused a stir by screaming at the crowd.
Check this out - he didn't hold back.
After a decision didn’t go his way, the 23-year-old yelled ‘shut the f**k up!’ at the spectators at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
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He was miffed because the umpire had deducted him a point for crossing the net – which you’re not allowed to do, by the way – before taking his frustration out on the crowd.
Shapovalov was one set up against home favourite Lorenzo Sonego but was losing the second four games to three at the time of his outburst.
He’d clearly disagreed on a call from the umpire before that, pointing at the spot on the clay where the ball had bounced.
The official got down from the big chair to take a look, before Shapovalov decided to cross over the net.
When the crowd – clearly getting behind the Italian Sonego - cheered the umpire deducting a point from him, he really lost the plot and screamed at the top of his voice back at them.
At the time, he’d described the rule stating that competitors can’t cross the net to argue calls with the umpire as ‘stupid’ before raising his concerns with a supervisor to the match.
Thankfully for him, he was allowed to continue and ended up winning the match in three sets.
He even apologised to the umpire and shook hands with him at the conclusion of the match.
Speaking to the ATP Tour television crew afterwards, he said: “I think I had to step up my level. He was playing some great tennis, but also just calming myself down after my mistake in the second set. I guess now I know the rules,”
He added: “I always love to play in Rome. I love the city, always feel like the fans are really into it. Obviously today a little bit against me more than with me, but it’s always very entertaining.”
Still, at the end of the match it was Shapovalov who earned his place in the second round, where he’ll face Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
If he can keep his temper through that, he’ll stand a chance.
In recent years he’s performed well in Rome, reaching the semi-finals in 2020 and taken Rafael Nadal – probably the greatest clay court player of all time – to match points in the round-of-16 last year.
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