Denis Shapovalov let his frustrations fly during his quarterfinal match with Rafael Nadal on Monday night. (Screen grab via Twitter/@wwos)
Playing in the Australian Open certainly comes with its stressors, and that was especially true for Denis Shapovalov Monday night as he squared off with one of the world’s best in the quarterfinals.
After upsetting No. 3 ranked Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the fourth round less than two days before, Shapovalov let his frustrations fly in his epic five-set loss to No. 6 Rafael Nadal, starting with a heated tirade directed at chair umpire Carlos Bernardes.
After dropping the first set 3-6 to a top-of-form Nadal, Shapovalov lost it when he believed Nadal was given additional time to change ends — something Nadal has been accused of before.
“You started the clock so long ago and [Nadal is] still not ready to play,” Shapo yelled toward the umpire. “You’ve got to code him.”
“He is not ready to play,” Bernardes replied.
“Are you kidding me? You guys are all corrupt,” Shapovalov responded.
Moments later, Shapo stared down Bernardes once again, before the umpire gave it right back.
“He is out of order. The clock was at seven and he had his hands in the air like Rafa was doing something wrong,” the broadcast’s commentary team said of the Canadian’s method of voicing his frustrations on that particular play.
“Shapovalov is out of order here.”
To Nadal’s credit, he later walked to the middle of the court and attempted to settle the dispute and calm his opponent down, which seemingly diffused things.
Shapovalov addressed the situation following the match, saying he got carried away in the heat of the moment. But he did stand by his implication that Nadal benefited from preferential treatment.
“I think I misspoke when I said (Bernardes) is corrupt, or whatever I said. It’s definitely emotional, but I do stand by my side,” Shapovalov said. “I think it’s unfair how much Rafa is getting away with.
“Where is the line? … I respect everything that Rafa has done and I think he’s an unbelievable player. But there have got to be some boundaries, some rules set. It’s just so frustrating as a player. You feel like you’re not just playing against the player; you’re playing against the umpires, you’re playing against so much more.”
Nadal chalked Shapovalov’s comments up to a combination of youth and frustration.
“I honestly feel sorry for him,” Nadal said. “I think he played a great match for a long time. Of course it’s tough to accept to lose a match like this. Especially after I was feeling destroyed and probably he felt that, and then I was able to manage to win the match, no?”
“He’s young. I made a lot of mistakes too when I was younger, and probably he will understand later on, after he thinks the proper way, that probably he was not right today.”
To be fair to Shapo — though his words likely did cross the line — having to try and cope with a vintage Nadal performance like this one would frustrate the hell out of anybody.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
