Denis
Shapovalov Criticizes ATP Again After New Fan Incident at the Cincinnati Open.
Just two weeks ago, the Canadian was defaulted from the DC Open during his
match against Ben Shelton following a verbal altercation with a spectator in
the stands.
This time,
the protagonist of the altercation was Jordan Thompson during his match against
Ugo Humbert, as the Australian was attacked by a fan who allegedly had placed a
bet on the Frenchman.
Shapovalov calls out lack of protection
A Twitter
user who was present during the match on Court 4 recounted the incident
firsthand: "Two fans in the front row of Thompson vs Humbert @CincyTennis
have heckled Thompson twice now. First time Thompson was clearly
agitated."
"It
seems like Thompson just complained. Chair umpire Mo Lahyani is trying to get
their attention to signal for them to quiet down. The two young men seem to be
avoiding eye contact with him. Hopefully, they quiet down anyway."
"It's
getting more heated. Thompson is directly interacting with them after a third
roasting from the fans," the user added shortly after. "Security is
asking the man to quiet down or he will be thrown out. This is at the
changeover 6-3, 2-5 with Humbert leading. For a second time, the man in the
white shirt mentioned having a bet on Humbert and argued his case."
"I
want to see Nick Kyrgios, not Jordan Thompson!" the spectator finally said
before leaving the match, which Thompson ended up winning in a third-set
tie-break.
Later,
Denis Shapovalov commented on the post on X, calling out the ATP for not
protecting Tour players. "So @atptour how long are we going to keep
allowing these things to go on?" he wrote.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
Seems like Thompson just complained. Chair umpire Mo Lahyani trying to get their attention to signal for them to quiet down. The two young men seem to be avoiding eye contact with him. Hopefully they quiet down anyway.
At the next changeover blue shirt man left. Chair umpire spoke with white shirt. The security was ready. Looks like he got a talking to but is still here.