Denis Shapovalov is quite literally fighting his way back up the ATP rankings, but with mixed success.
The Cincinnati Open has been following the trajectory of the two main tournaments on the ATP by attracting more controversy on Tuesday.
Taylor Fritz was in disbelief at the umpire after he stopped and replayed the point due to a fault with the electronic line-calling, after Brandon Nakashima’s shot visibly sailed long.
It comes just days after Denis Shapovalov was ‘defaulted’ after allegedly using foul language towards a fan at the Washington Open – a match umpired by the same official as the Fritz and Nakashima match, Greg Allensworth.
The fine he incurred, as well as the lengthy confusion with the ATP did not see Shapovalov cover himself in glory, or properly issue any sort of apology.
However, with more crowd unrest in Cincinnati, Shapovalov was quick to call out the ATP to get their act together, with the Canadian quite clearly still indignant over his clash with them last week.
Denis Shapovalov lashes out at the ATP once again
I doubt Shapovalov has any plans to make up with the ATP officials soon, with the Canadian taking any chance he can to call them out.
During Jordan Thompson and Ugo Humbert’s first round match, two fans in the front row allegedly heckled Thompson twice, with the first time clearly agitating the Australian, who eventually won the match in three sets.
Thompson is then said to have clashed with them a third time and informed the umpire, with security on court eventually speaking but not removing the hecklers.
Shapovalov, perhaps opportunistically, wrote on X above the thread explaining the controversy: “So @atptour how long are we going to keep allowing these things to go on?”
With the Canadian dumped out of Montreal in the first round and not playing in Cincinnati, I doubt Shapovalov’s relationship with the ATP is set to heal any time soon.
Tennis tournaments in America seem to often have crowd controversy
It was Indian Wells when Nick Kyrgios clashed with some disruptive spectators, prompting his famous line directed towards Ben Stiller, who was also watching on: “Do I tell him how to act?”
Daniil Medvedev has also been involved in clashes with the US Open crowd, calling on two fans to “shut up” and saying “are you stupid or what?” at 2023’s tournament.
Medvedev however has also called out the ATP recently, rushing to the defence of Shapovalov – so go figure.
Laura Siegmund also labelled the crowd at Flushing Meadows as having ‘no respect’ after her match last year.
While crowd unrest and fans enjoying the spectacle is bound to occasionally boil over, with tennis players also often experiencing high tension, perhaps a worrying streak is being set already before the US Open even begins.
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