Tennis star fumes at Shanghai Masters umpire after fan performs outrageous stunt | Tennis | Sport

Following his apology for an explosive rant at the China Open, Lorenzo Musetti has once more voiced his frustrations about spectators coughing whilst he serves. The 23-year-old has enjoyed his finest season to date, progressing to the French Open semi-finals before an impressive quarter-final appearance at the US Open. During those Grand Slam campaigns, he suffered defeats to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Nevertheless, he has recently courted controversy over his ill-judged remarks in Beijing, and suffered elimination at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. The Italian insisted that Chinese supporters were ‘always coughing’ as his irritation mounted over disruptions during his service games. Throughout his Shanghai Masters loss on Wednesday, Musetti grumbled once more, with one spectator even spotted uncorking a champagne bottle amongst the crowd.

Musetti was comprehensively outplayed by Felix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday, falling 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16.

During the opening game of the second set, a loud disturbance erupted from the stands, with cameras capturing a gentleman opening a bottle of Moet.

Whilst he enjoyed his beverage, the individual seated beside him covered her mouth in embarrassment. Yet Musetti refrained from protesting until later in the second set.

The Italian battled during his service game, and as Auger-Aliassime prepared to serve for victory, Musetti appealed to the umpire.

“I know I made a mistake and I said something wrong, but please say something to them,” he pleaded.

Musetti was visibly irritated as he exited the court after the match. Following his controversial remarks at the China Open, he insinuated that the coughing may have been intentional.

During a second-set tiebreaker against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on 26th September, Musetti vented his frustration at the audience.

“They are always coughing, these f****** Chinese,” he exclaimed. “They are always coughing, for f*** sake. They cough every three seconds.”

Despite winning the match and advancing to the quarter-finals of the China Open, Musetti faced significant backlash on social media and accusations of racism.

The following day, he issued an apology via his Instagram account, saying: “I would like to sincerely apologise for what I said in frustration yesterday during my match.

“My words were directed only at a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly and disturbing the play.

“They were never, in any way, meant for the Chinese people. It happened in a moment of stress and tension in the second tiebreak, but still, this is no excuse at all.”