Canadian tennis player Denis Šapovalov was disqualified in the quarterfinals of the ATP tournament in Washington. When his opponent Ben Shelton won a match point in the tiebreak of the second set, the former world number 10 threw his racket in anger and immediately shouted something at a spectator who had also shouted at him earlier.
Photo: SITA/AP, Andrew Medichini
Denis Shapovalov reacts during the match against the Italian Lorenzo Sonega.
The specialized tennis website TennGrand reported that the native of Israel addressed the audience with vulgar abuse.
Referee Greg Allensworth punished Shapovalov for unsportsmanlike behavior and ended the match 7:6 (7:5), 6:6 (6:3) for the American.
If there is no successful appeal, Šapovalov will lose the quarterfinal prize of $53,240 and 100 points in the ATP ranking.
It is the second fact that can be extremely unpleasant for the tennis player from the country of the maple leaf, because he is currently ranked 139th in the ATP ranking.
Second-seeded Shelton will meet Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the semifinals. The second pair will be home players Sebastian Korda and Frances Tiafoe.
The American defended his opponent and, judging by his expression, he was surprised that the referee ended the match.
“It was the mental setting that was decisive in this duel. Believe me I was nervous too but I managed it. In addition, I served well, which helped me a lot in crucial moments,” said the 21-year-old American talent Shelton.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
