'You're f***ing pathetic': Australian Open star in shocking altercation with umpire
Reilly Opelka is the latest player to blow up at the Australian Open, labelling a chair umpire “f***ing pathetic” in an ugly foul-mouthed tirade.
The giant American was in action against 12th seed Fabio Fognini on Tuesday when he was left incensed by the Italian’s supposed time wasting.
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Opelka had already been hit with a code violation for time wasting but was filthy that Fognini didn’t get the same treatment.
When Opelka felt Fognini got away with more time wasting he confronted umpire Carlos Bernardes.
“How many f***ing times are you going to let him get away with it?” Opelka raged as he got right in Bernardes’ face.
“You’re f***ing pathetic. He’s done it four times.”
Needless to say fans were less than impressed by Opelka’s actions.
@Ryankate1 this is pathetic from Opelka. https://t.co/3IJBmXnC6g
— Drew Galloway (@DGalloway01) January 21, 2020
Such a bad bad look for Opelka..
— Padma-NoleFamMom (@idemo4ever) January 21, 2020
Watching Opelka embarrassing himself by cursing at the ump and calling him pathetic. How dare he? A bit shocking these men think they can act like this on a tennis court. #AustralianOpen
— Stephane DeRienzis (@SDeRienzis) January 21, 2020
yup. just bad all around
— la linda ✨ (@triestocare) January 21, 2020
Opelka just told Carlos Bernardes he was pathetic with a lot of swearing to boot. Classy, Reilly! Fognini will be LOVING it #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/6D8BUZUiWf
— JAbet (@JAbetOfficial) January 21, 2020
I was channel surfing and just caught Opelka calling Bernades "pathetic" for giving him a TVW (and letting Fognini get away with time wasting, I think) which resulted in Bernades giving him a conduct warning. Fun.
— Aentschy (@AentschyR) January 21, 2020
Ironically Fognini did earn a code violation and point penalty soon after when he angrily threw his racquet.
Bernardes dealing with a lot today, both Opelka and Fognini are in a mood.
— ジョン (@delJontro) January 21, 2020
It’s the second ugly meltdown of the tournament so far after Canada’s Denis Shapovalov also blew up at an umpire on Monday.
Fognini went on to claim victory in a marathon five-setter, storming back to win 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.
Aussie young gun bows out
Well before he shot to prominence in November with victory over Alex de Minaur at the Next Gen championships, Australian Max Purcell was already a fully-fledged member of the Jannik Sinner fan club.
Purcell had his first look at the Italian teenager during Wimbledon qualifying last year and he could not have been more impressed.
And nothing that has happened at Melbourne Park over the past couple of days, when Sinner beat the 21-year-old Purcell 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-4 in a rain-interrupted opening-round encounter at the Australian Open, has done anything to alter that opinion.
"He hits such a nice ball and he's mentally so stable on the court," said Purcell, who was the only one of 22 Australian hopefuls to advance from qualifying into the main draw at the Open this year.
"It motivated me to take my tennis a little bit more seriously.
"Not that I wasn't, but there are a few one per centers where I could get more on top of.
"He showed you that one week here or one week there can really change how your year goes.
"He is flying and the sky's the limit for him.
"I said to my manager at Wimbledon last year when (Sinner) was outside 200, I had a bet that he'd finish the year inside the top 75 and he finished up 78, so I thought I called that pretty well."
with AAP
