Tennis Controversy: Christopher Eubanks Drops Perplexed Reaction to Shock Denis Shapovalov Ruling During Ben Shelton Match

Denis Shapovalov is having an evening to forget! It sounds like the star player is going through a rough patch in Washington. His frustrations boiled over, and it was clear the evening wasn’t going as he’d hoped. For a player with his talent, it must be tough to handle such moments on the court. But amidst the chaos, there’s always room for a bit of curiosity and humor. Christopher Eubanks, ever the observant and witty player, couldn’t help but be intrigued by the spectacle.

Playing against Ben Shelton in the quarterfinal match at the Citi Open, Shapovalov lost his calm. With the second set tied at 6-6 and the tiebreaker underway, the Canadian star player was seen agitated as he had some ugly exchanges with a fan in the stands. Shapovalov was seen smashing his racquet against the ground and then swatting it away. 

He was also spotted having an indistinct chatter with a fan, sitting near the baseline, as he visibly looked agitated. As a result of this behavior, the officials decided to default the Canadian player, which led to curiosity for Eubanks. Taking to his X account soon after the incident, Eubanks seemed to question the entire happening and the ruling that followed. 

“I’m curious what you can possibly say to a spectator that’ll get you defaulted….. 🤔.” Usually, players receive a warning for a code violation and are allowed to continue in the match. But the situation was not similar for Shapovalov.

The 25-year-old was also seen talking to the umpire, probably to request him to overturn the decision but the attempt was in vain. But as the American ‘giraffe’ remains curious, Shapovalov is not just witnessing one heartbreak this evening. 

Shapovalov has more to lose after Washington exit

Shapovalov’s unsportsmanlike behavior made him suffer to the extreme in the match. While his anger has proven to be worrisome for him in the past as well, the situation is adverse this time. And he is not just losing his shot at the title, as there is a lot more to it. 

The Canadian star player’s elimination from the Washington Open will also cost him prize money and rankings. The former world No. 10 will not receive any prize money or ranking advantage due to the disqualification and will have to return empty-handed. This would mean that for the 25-year-old, cruising back to the top 100 in the ATP rankings will not be in the picture anytime soon. 

The Canadian star must be well aware of the setbacks his anger has brought to him. Several experts and fans have often expressed the need for Shapovalov to work on his mental tenacity to improve his game. As the season evolves, it will be interesting to see if Shapovalov learns from his mistakes and achieves better in the days to come.