By Alberto Amalfi | Monday, May 9, 2022
Denis Shapovalov crossed the net.
Then he crossed the line.
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Watch an irate Shapovalov scream "Shut the F--k Up!" at Rome fans jeering him after he was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct point penalty for crossing the net.
Go to the 1:30 mark of the video below to see Shapovalov drop a F-Bomb on fans. The Canadian left-hander wasn't yelling "Forza" either.
In a testament to Shapo's argumentative focus, note how he re-engages debate immediately after screaming "Shut the F--k Up!" to fans.
The craziness all went down during the second set of Shapovalov's 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3 Rome victory over Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
The lanky Italian, who bears a striking resemblance to Karate Kid actor Ralph Macchio, challenged a Shapovalov second serve that was initially called good. Sonego circled a ball mark, the chair umpire inspected it and agreed the serve was out resulting in a double fault.
An incredulous Shapovalov argued it was the wrong mark and climbed over the net—a clear rule violation—to show where he thought the mark landed.
The chair umpire calmly explained the call then informed Shapovalov he'd be hit with unsportsmanlike conduct for crossing the net.
“I’m not doing anything unsportsmanlike,” Shapavalov said.
“That’s just the rule,” the umpire replied.
“No, it’s not, it’s stupid,” the Canadian, growing increasingly frustrated, shot back.
It is illegal to cross the net.
It's stunning Shapovalov is unaware of that rule.
It's as surprising as not knowing that touching the net results in losing the point or that crossing the center stripe on serve is a foot fault.
Afterward, Shapovalov said he apologized to the chair umpire and won't cross the net again.
"I mean, never obviously done it before, otherwise I would have known the rules," Shapovalov told the media in Rome. "Yeah, like I said, it was the heat of the moment so I got emotional. I apologized after. Obviously it was my mistake. There's nothing they can do.
"I mean, I'll know the rule for next time. I definitely won't step over the net."
As for feuding with fans, Shapovalov said he feels a love connection with the Rome faithful—as long as he's not facing an Italian opponent.
"I've played in Rome a lot of times. The fans love me here and I love the fans," Shapovalov said. "I think there's a huge love. Even after the match, there were a lot of people standing, waiting for pictures, stuff like that.
"I do really appreciate the sport and the love I get here. I'm super excited to play another match—not against an Italian."
Devoted tennis fans will recall Martina Hingis famously crossing the net to inspect a mark during the Roland Garros final vs. Steffi Graf after the Swiss Miss was hooked on a line call.
French fans ravaged Hingis and the Swiss never recovered losing her lead and the 1999 French Open final to Graf.