Canadian No.14 Denis Shapovalov says Rafael Nadal “100 per cent” gets preferential treatment from umpires, teeing off in an extraordinary post-match tirade following his fourth-round Australian Open exit.
Shapovalov fell just short of what would have been a career-best win against the 20-time grand slam champion, but pushed Nadal all the way before falling 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 in a five-set epic.
But the match was overshadowed by controversy after Shapovalov accused chair umpire Carlos Bernardes of being “corrupt” during the first set, with the Canadian frustrated over Nadal’s pace of play.
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Shapovalov conceded he was out of line with that comment, but said it was “unfair” that Nadal wasn’t being hit with time violations more regularly in his service games.
“I think I misspoke when I said he’s corrupt or whatever I said. It’s definitely emotional but I do stand by my side. I think it’s unfair, you know, how much Rafa is getting away with,” Shapovalov said during his press conference.
“I’m completely ready to play and the clock is ticking three, two, one, clicking towards zero, and I’m looking at the ump, and, you know, obviously I’m going to speak up and say something.
“I’ve been ready to play for a minute and a half, and he tells me he’s not going to give him a code violation because I’m not ready to play. To me, it’s a big joke if somebody says that. And then after the fourth set, I mean, the guy goes… and for the same thing last year I wasn’t allowed to take a toilet break when I asked for a medical.
“He had already taken two medicals. He was getting medically evaluated, that’s what the umpire said after the fourth set, getting medically evaluated. After the evaluation, the guy goes and takes a toilet break.
“It’s like, where is the line?
“Where are you going to step on the players and say, ‘Okay’ – and again, I respect everything that Rafa has done and I think he’s an unbelievable player – but, you know, there’s got to be some boundaries, some rules set.
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“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.
“I just think it’s super difficult and super frustrating as an athlete to go up against all of this.”
Shapovalov also vented his frustrations after last year not being allowed to take a toilet break.
Asked if Nadal receives preferential treatment from umpires, Shapovalov didn’t hold back.
“Of course. One-hundred per cent he does,” he said. “One-hundred per cent.
“Every other match that I have played, the pace has been so quick because the refs have been on the clock after every single point.
“This one, after the first two sets it was like an hour and a half just because he’s dragged out so much after every single point.
“He’s given so much time in between sets and all this. It’s just dragged out.
“As I said – I literally, for the same reason I wasn’t allowed to go to the washroom last year at the Australian Open because I had called a medical.
“I’m not arguing the fact that he had a medical or whatever it is. But how can you get evaluated medically and have a toilet break at the same break and just cause so much delay in the game?
“I mean, it’s just not balanced.”
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