US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe directed a barrage of expletives at the chair umpire after losing his third-round match at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.
Tiafoe targeted referee Jimmy Pinoargote in a one-minute tirade following his 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 defeat to unseeded Roman Safiullin. The American was angry after receiving his first serve due to a time violation at 5-5 in the decisive tiebreak.
Pinoargote ruled that Tiafoe did not make a genuine attempt to serve when he threw the ball into the air at the baseline. Tiafoe initially protested before continuing with the match. “No, no, I threw the ball up… I was ready to serve,” Tiafoe told Pinoargote. “Dude, that’s the rule.”
Two points later, the match was over and he congratulated Safiullin at the net before turning to the referee’s chair.
“Fuck you, man! Fuck you! Seriously, dude. You took me out of the match,” Tiafoe told Pinoargote. Before leaving the court, Tiafoe added: “Never again.”
Tiafoe could face fines for verbal abuse of an official and for using obscenities. The tournament could take away some of its prize money, and the case could also be sent to the ATP Member Fines Committee for further investigation. The ATP rulebook stipulates fines of $60,000 at Masters 1000 tournaments. A spokesperson for the tour said no decision had been made on the matter.
Safiullin advanced against Novak Djokovic in the round of 16.
Tiafoe had great form in the summer, reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open, where he lost to Jannick Sinner, and then reached the semi-finals at the US Open, where he lost to compatriot Taylor Fritz in five sets.