‘Shut the f*** up!’ – WATCH: Denis Shapovalov survives after complete meltdown in Italian Open tussle
Denis Shapovalov has come through one of the most eventful ATP matches of the year so far to reach the second round of the Italian Open.
The world number 16 weathered an epic 91-minute opening set, a monumental mental eruption and a hostile Italian Open crowd to outlast home talent Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3.
Shapovalov had that aforementioned meltdown down 3-4 in the second set serving at Ad-40.
After a late umpire overrule on a second serve, the Canadian made the mistake of hurdling the net to show umpire Richard Haigh the mark he believed was in.
That move is a code violation as players are required to remain on their side of the net when disputing a mark.
Haigh calmly levelled with Shapovalov that he understood his frustration, but that he was left with no choice but to hand out a code violation and a point penalty given it was a second warning for the 23-year-old.
That is when Shapovalov began to plead, asked for the supervisor.
When told by Haigh that that simply is the rule, he said: “No it’s not, it’s stupid!”
But scenes really got ugly when as the Italian Open crowd jeered Shapovalov while he conversed with the supervisor, he turned and shouted: “Shut the f*** up!”
Fortunately for him, Haigh appeared not to pick up the expletive and so did not hand out an audible obscenity code violation which would have given Sonego a point and the next game and, in turn, the second set.
Warning: this clip contains language that some viewers may find offensive, viewer discretion advised
🗣️(🎥@eurosport) pic.twitter.com/xvWWxwXWHu
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) May 9, 2022
Somehow, after all this and the Italian levelling the match, Shapovalov still managed to break early in the decider and close out the match after three hours and 10 minutes on court.
He did then own up to his mistake, saying in his post-match interview: “[I had to] calm myself down after my mistake in the second set.
“I guess now I know the rules.”
Shapovalov takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia next.
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