5 instances of tennis players getting disqualifiedÂ
Losing a tennis match is, obviously, quite disheartening for a player. However, losing a match by getting disqualified is probably the worst possible way to bow out of a tournament.
A tennis player can get disqualified if he or she receives three code violations or a direct disqualification if they physically abuse someone. These violations can be for verbal abuse, racket abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct, and so on.
ATP rules state that: Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site. For purposes of this rule, physical abuse is the unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, and spectator or other person.
There have not been too many instances of players losing a match due to disqualification.
In this article, we take a look at a few of those instances:
#5 Denis Shapovalov - 2017
Young rising star Denis Shapovalov was disqualified during Canada's Davis Cup encounter against Great Britain in 2017.
Just 17 years old back then, Shapovalov tossed the ball away in anger after getting broken in the third set by Kyle Edmund. However, the ball, travelling at around 80 mph, hit the umpire under the eye.
The young Canadian realised what he had done and immediately went to apologise. However, he was disqualified from the encounter before the umpire went on to receive medical treatment.
The Davis Cup tie was all square at 2-2 but Shapovalov's outburst gave the match to Great Britain. Edmund might have gone on to win the match anyway since he was leading by two sets to love and was up a break in the third. However, the disqualification gave Canada no hope to make a comeback.
Both Shapovalov and Edmund have risen through the ranks over the past couple of years and have achieved their career-best rankings as well.