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Australian Open: Heated argument erupts after all-Italian five-set classic

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An official (centre) tries to intervene as Italian players Fabio Fognini (left) and Salvatore Caruso started arguing after their match at the Australian Open. (AFP)

An official (centre) tries to intervene as Italian players Fabio Fognini (left) and Salvatore Caruso started arguing after their match at the Australian Open. (AFP)

Melbourne - The traditional handshake at the net quickly degenerated into a heated argument when Fognini suggested Caruso had been lucky on some points

Published: Thu 11 Feb 2021, 3:23 PM

Updated: Thu 11 Feb 2021, 3:35 PM

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  • Reuters

Fabio Fognini and Salvatore Caruso had to be separated by the court supervisor after the first all-Italian Australian Open men’s singles match of the open era ended in uproar on Thursday.

The compatriots had battled it out over nearly four hours in the John Cain Arena before 16th seed Fognini emerged a 4-6 6-2 2-6 6-3 7-6 (14/12) winner.


The traditional handshake at the net quickly degenerated into a heated argument when Fognini suggested Caruso had been lucky on some points in the match, an observation the Sicilian objected to.

The expletive-filled argument continued by the side of the court until the official stood between the two players as they continued to gesticulate.

It is the second year in a row that Fognini has been involved in controversy after a long match at Melbourne Park.

Fognini ripped his shirt off in protest and was docked a point for refusing to play during an ill-tempered fourth round loss to Tenys Sandgren that the American described as a “war”.

The 33-year-old claycourt specialist will face Australian number one Alex de Minaur in the third round.



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