Denis Shapovalov’s victory in Washington was marred by controversy and drama, as the young Canadian found himself in hot water after a heated exchange with a heckler during his quarterfinal match. Despite the unfortunate incident, Shapovalov managed to come out on top, albeit with some consequences.
Shelton had been dominating the match, leading by a set and with a 6-3 advantage in the second-set tie-break, when Shapovalov’s frustrations boiled over. The Canadian smashed his racket in a fit of anger and then proceeded to engage in a heated confrontation with a spectator in the crowd. His outburst ultimately led to his disqualification from the match, and it seemed like he would lose both his prize money and ranking points as a result.
However, calls to show leniency towards Shapovalov were heard, with fellow players like Alexander Bublik and Vasek Pospisil speaking out against the harsh punishment. The ATP eventually ruled in Shapovalov’s favor, allowing him to keep his prize money and ranking points while imposing a substantial fine of $36,400 for his conduct.
“While officials were correct in their decision to default Shapovalov, the loss of rankings points and prize money was deemed too severe a penalty in this case,” the ATP stated in a press release. This decision meant that Shapovalov was able to retain his earnings from the tournament, totaling around $17,000, and even saw a significant jump in his ranking, moving up 33 spots to No. 106.
The saga in Washington may have been a bittersweet one for Shapovalov, but ultimately, he was able to come out of it with his head held high. The young Canadian will now look to put this incident behind him as he continues his promising career in the world of professional tennis.