'Not doing your job': Young star loses the plot in ugly Australian Open meltdown
Denis Shapovalov has produced the first big blow-up of the Australian Open, berating an umpire after being hit with a code violation.
The 13th seed was a picture of frustration in the opening round on Monday as unseeded Hungarian Martin Fucsovics pulled off a stunning boilover.
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After Fucsovics took an unlikely two sets to one lead, Shapovalov let out his frustrations with a huge racquet smash.
However he was even further incensed when the chair umpire hit him with a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Shapovalov thought that because he hadn’t broken the racquet he shouldn’t have been hit with the violation.
"I didn't break it. If I break it, 100% code me,” Shapovalov yelled at the umpire.
“You're not doing your job. You're just finding reasons to code me".
It was apparently the third time Shapovalov had thrown his racquet in anger.
Shapovalov screaming to the umpire, who gave him a code violation for racket abuse when he didn't break his racket.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 20, 2020
Shapovalov throws his racquet (yet again), gets a Code Violation Warning for racquet abuse, then proceeds to argue with the chair umpire he cannot give him a CV if he didn't *break* the racquet 🥴😳🤐 Tense times.#ausopen pic.twitter.com/7ZPzXpplhp
— Foam A. Lime TNNS (@FoamALime) January 20, 2020
🇨🇦 Shapovalov has slammed his racquet three times hence the umpire seeing enough #AusOpen https://t.co/9HoD3Ab6r9
— John Horn (@SportsHorn) January 20, 2020
Shapovalov has not been in a good mood all day. One set all but now a break down in the third to Fucsovics. Angry at being warned by umpire for a racket slam. "I didn't break it. If I break it, 100% code me. You're not doing your job. You're just finding reasons to code me".
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) January 20, 2020
And it didn’t get any better for Shapovalov, crashing out 6-3 6-7(7) 6-1 7-6(3) in a huge upset.
😘☝️
Fucsovics knocks out 13th seed Shapovalov 6-3 6-7(7) 6-1 7-6(3), scoring the biggest upset of Day 1!#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/HGMWOf2QtE— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2020
Young Aussies go out in first round
Elsewhere, late-blooming Andrew Harris's grand slam debut has ended in a first-round loss to Italian No.8 seed Matteo Berrettini.
The 25-year-old son of former Australian Open quarter-finalist Anne Minter bowed out 6-3 6-1 6-3 on Monday.
Harris was awarded a wildcard to the Open after enjoying a career-best 2019 campaign which saw his ranking slashed from No.400 to 162.
Countryman John-Patrick Smith was also beaten in straight sets.
The 30-year-old wildcard playoff winner lost 6-3 7-5 6-4 to No.22 seed Guido Pella from Argentina.
Smith has now lost all six of his main-draw singles matches at the majors.
There are nine Australians in action on day one at Melbourne Park including women's world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, veteran Samantha Stosur and Davis Cup duo John Millman and Jordan Thompson.
with AAP
