Incredible moment Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov accuses Australian Open umpire of being ‘CORRUPT ‘ – as he crashes out in match with Rafael Nadal
- Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov lost his cool at the Australian Open
- Accused chair umpire of being corrupt after first set against Rafael Nadal
- Nadal then attempted to diffuse the ugly turn of events with the fiery young gun
- Nadal went on to five the four hour marathon match in a five set thriller
Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov imploded on court at the Australian Open, accusing a veteran chair umpire of being corrupt before going down in a five set thriller.
The extraordinary outburst unfolded during the early stages of the young gun’s drama-filled quarter final showdown on centre court against Rafael Nadal on Tuesday afternoon at at Melbourne Park.
After winning the first set 6-3 in stifling heat, Nadal was taking his time to hydrate and compose himself, sparking a fiery response from his 14th seed opponent.
Shapovalov was fed up with his opponent’s perceived special treatment, stating to chair umpire Carlos Bernardes: ‘You’re looking at the clock so long ago and he’s still not ready to play.’
Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov (pictured) imploded on court at the Australian Open, accusing a chair umpire of being corrupt on Tuesday in his quarter final against Rafael Nadal
As tension mounted on court during their quarter-final, Rafael Nadal (pictured right) attempted to calm his opponent down
‘You’ve gotta code him.’
Bernardes wasn’t interested in Shapovalov’s gripe, and was quick to fire back with: ‘He’s (Nadal) not ready to play.’
Shapovalov then hit back, saying: ‘Are you kidding me? You are all corrupt’.
Spanish star Nadal then tried to diffuse the situation, as the level of tension quickly rose.
Rafael Nadal’s quest for a record 21st grand slam title remains in tact after winning a five set quarter final thriller
Aussie tennis great Todd Woodbridge said Nadal showed his experience in the fiery showdown.
‘Rafa walked up with authority as if to say, “Now son, come here” and put his hand out gently as to say, “We don’t have issues. You just get back there and play and we’ll get it all done”,’ he said in commentary on Channel Nine.
‘It was like a senior diffusing moment. A lot of other players would’ve gone a lot hotter a lot quicker than Rafa did.’
Fellow commentator and two-time Australian Open winner Jim Courier was also stunned by Shapovalov’s outburst.
‘That’s not going to ingratiate him to the chair umpire either, not making any friends out her,’ he said.
Canada’s Denis Shapovalova appeals to the umpire before accusing him of being corrupt
Nadal won the first two sets before Shapovalov staged a comeback to claim the next two to send the match into a fifth set.
The Spanish star went on to win the fifth set 6-3 after requiring courtside medical attention from his doctor.
‘I started to feel not very well in my stomach,’ Nadal admitted afterwards.
‘They just checked everything was alright with my body.’
Rafael Nadal (pictured) needed medical attention from his doctors during the fourth set
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