Numerous incidents have occurred so far at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, and Grigor Dimitrov being tripped by a fan can be added to the list.
The penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the season in Shanghai is one of the most significant events on the calendar. It draws large crowds and the best players in the world, creating a great spectacle.
However, this year's edition has possibly already had more controversies than any other tournament. Three incidents during matches generated debate among players and fans.
The first was an extraordinary umpiring mistake during Stan Wawrinka's defeat in Shanghai to Flavio Cobolli. Wawrinka was serving in the second game of the final set and won the opening point.
Cobolli won the following point, meaning the score should have been 15-15. But the umpire, Carlos Bernardes, called the score as 0-30. No one noticed the mistake, and Cobolli went on to secure the match's only break.
That was a terrible umpiring mistake, but the other two on-court controversies involved umpires being treated unfairly. Frances Tiafoe launched a furious rant after his defeat in Shanghai, where he lost a first-serve for a second time violation.
Alexander Zverev also raged at the umpire in his match for a double bounce call. However, replays showed the German was wrong, and the umpire correctly ruled that he had not got to the ball before it bounced again.
Tiafoe and Zverev were both guilty of poor behavior in their respective incidents, but a video shared on social media appeared to show Dimitrov being tripped while he was minding his own business.
As seen in the video below, Dimitrov is walking through a large crowd of fans who had gathered. There is then a gasp from many watching and recording the Bulgarian, who turns around with an annoyed expression.
Although it cannot be clearly seen, it looks like Dimitrov was tripped by one of the fans. The former Wimbledon semifinalist confronts the person involved, although they cannot be seen on camera.
Dimitrov points at the fan and tells them not to do that again. Unsatisfied with the reaction he got, the 33-year-old walks closer and stares down whoever tripped him, with a member of security beside him, before eventually walking away.
It is great when fans are excited to see the players at tournaments, and the vast majority of Chinese fans have given excellent support in Shanghai and at other events in the country. Unfortunately, a small minority sometimes cross the line, as the person who tripped Dimitrov did.
That moment took the shine off Dimitrov's impressive 7-6, 6-2 victory against Alexei Popyrin, who won the Masters 1000 in Montreal in August. Dimitrov discussed how starting to read the Australian's game better was crucial to him winning the match.
"I think after that first set tiebreak I started to the read the game a little bit more. I think his serve kind of changed its direction a little bit. I was able to read his serve very well. ultimately, I found a good, yeah, a good distance between me and the ball and I was executing very well."