Post by : Rameen Ariff

World No. 9 Italian tennis star Lorenzo Musetti faced repeated disruptions from spectators during his fourth-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. The 23-year-old player, who recently apologized for a similar incident in Beijing, asked the chair umpire to intervene as fans deliberately coughed while he was serving.

The incident occurred in the second set when Musetti had just dropped his serve and fell 2-5. Frustrated by the repeated interruptions, he said to umpire Adel Nour, "Come on, (it happens on) every point. I understand a few times … I made a mistake, OK, but this is not possible every point. It's too much. Say something." Despite the disturbances, Musetti went on to lose the match 6-4, 6-2.

This is not the first time Musetti has been involved in controversy over fan behavior in China. During the China Open last month, Musetti complained that Chinese fans were "always coughing" during his match against French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The comments caused a stir online, prompting the Italian to issue a public apology on Instagram.

In his apology, Musetti clarified that his remarks were aimed at only a few individuals who were repeatedly disturbing play and were never meant to offend the Chinese people. He explained that the comments came during a moment of stress and tension in the second tiebreak of the match. He wrote, "It happened in a moment of stress and tension, but still, this is no excuse at all. I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended."

Musetti is not the only player to face criticism in China recently. American tennis player Taylor Townsend also apologized for making negative remarks about food served during the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen last month.

The Shanghai incident highlights the challenges professional tennis players face with crowd behavior, particularly during high-pressure moments. Players must maintain focus while competing, and disruptions can affect their performance and concentration. Tennis authorities often ask spectators to behave respectfully, but incidents like these show that managing audience conduct remains a concern in major tournaments.

#world news #Global News