Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov yelled at the Rome crowd to “shut the f— up” in the second set of his Rome opener versus home favorite Lorenzo Sonego but after the match apologized and acknowledged his mistake.
Denis Shapovalov in a heated battle with Lorenzo Sonego/the Italian crowd in Rome…
“Shut the f___ up,” he shouts when booed for arguing with the supervisor.pic.twitter.com/TVTGgNbeTy — James Gray (@jamesgraysport) May 9, 2022
In the second set, Shapovalov crossed the net to show the umpire the mark.
Shapovalov received a point penalty for crossing the net and he proceed to complain that he did nothing but just showed the mark. The chair umpire told Shapovalov that per the rule he had to give him a point penalty. While Shapovalov was describing the rule as “stupid,” the Rome crowd got involved.
That was when Shapovalov told them to “shut the f— up.”
“I was just showing you the mark” Denis Shapovalov tells the umpire, who has to give him a point penalty for crossing the net.
Umpire: “That’s just the rule.”
Shapovalov: “No it’s not, it’s stupid.”
Crowd erupts.
Shapovalov: “Shut the f*** up” — Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) May 9, 2022
Shapovalov won and apologized
Shapovalov survived his Rome opener as he defeated Sonego 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-3.
After the match, Shapovalov apologized to the chair umpire: “I’m sorry, I know you’re just following the rules.”
Shapovalov apologizes to the umpire, “I’m sorry, I know you’re just following the rules” as he wraps up a 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3 win over Lorenzo Sonego in 3hr 10mins.
Gets Basilashvili next!
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) May 9, 2022
Shapovalov got broken in the third game of the match but broke back Sonego in the 10th game, when the Italian was serving for the first set. After saving a set point in the 10th game and forcing a tie-break, Shapovalov took a 6-3 lead in the tie-break before converting his third set point to win a tight opener.
In the second set, the first break was seen in the eighth game, when Sonego broke Shapovalov for a 5-3 lead. Sonego then served out for the second set in the following game. Shapovalov responded well to losing the second set as he started the decider with a 3-0 lead.
Shapovalov routinely held on to his serve the rest of the match to clinch a three-set win. It was the first meeting between Shapovalov and Sonego. “I think I had to step up my level (in the 3rd). He was playing some great tennis.
But also just calming myself down after making my mistake in the second set. I guess now I know the rules,” Shapovalov added.
Denis Shapovalov acknowledges his mistake in the on-court interview:
I think I had to step up my level (in the 3rd).
He was playing some great tennis. But also just calming myself down after making my mistake in the second set. I guess now I know the rules. — Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) May 9, 2022
