Frances Tiafoe did not escape punishment for his expletive-laden meltdown at an umpire during the Shanghai Masters last month.
Tiafoe is currently enjoying some time away from tennis after a long ATP season. He and his girlfriend were recently pictured at an NFL match with the celebrity couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
The American probably needed a break after how he ended the season. Tiafoe could not find his tennis during the Asian or the European indoor hardcourt swings, meaning 2024 ended with something of a whimper for him.
Tiafoe may have been mentally impacted by the devastation of losing the US Open semifinal for a second time in five sets against Taylor Fritz. His other five-set loss at that stage in New York came against Carlos Alcaraz in 2022.
It felt like a golden chance for Tiafoe since he had played excellent tennis during the North American hardcourt swing. A few weeks before the US Open, Jannik Sinner beat him in the final of the Cincinnati Open.
Although it is impossible to know for sure, the mental hangover from his brutal loss to Fritz at the US Open may have contributed to Tiafoe's rant at the umpire, which generated headlines worldwide.
Tiafoe faced Roman Safiullin in the round of 32 at the Shanghai Masters. It was a very close battle between the pair. The American took the opening set 7-5 before Safiullin forced a decider by winning the second 7-5.
Another close set went to a deciding set tiebreak. At 5-5 on Tiafoe's serve, he noticed the shot clock was about to run to zero. That led to him throwing the ball in the air, thinking that would provide some leeway.
However, the umpire realized Tiafoe was not making a genuine attempt to serve and gave him a time violation. Since he had also been penalized earlier in the match, the US Open semifinalist lost a first serve.
Safiullin won the match after winning the following two points, and Tiafoe could not contain his emotions. He repeatedly shouted "f*** you!" at the umpire, leaving those in the crowd and watching worldwide stunned.
Tiafoe was fortunate not to be disqualified for that rant, which umpires can do even when the match is over. The 26-year-old swiftly apologized a few hours after the match, which probably saved him from a more severe punishment.
But, according to Eurosport, he still received a fine of $120,000 for his actions in Shanghai. Not being disqualified meant he did not receive a harsher sanction, such as when Alexander Zverev was handed a two-month suspended ban after violently hitting an umpire's chair after a match in Acapulco.
Tiafoe won $59,100 in prize money at the Shanghai Masters, which means his actions cost him $60,100 in total. Considering how aggressive the American's rant was, he might count himself quite fortunate.
The Cincinnati Open runner-up said he wanted to be better in his apology after the incident. He will have an opportunity to demonstrate that when the 2025 season begins.
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