'Aggressive' handshake sparks fight between tennis pros
An overly aggressive post-match handshake between two young competitors at the Henderson Tennis Open in Las Vegas has sparked an ugly confrontation.
Alycia Parks, 18, was less than impressed with opponent Katherine Sebov, 20, after the latter let out a triumphant scream after claiming a 6-0, 7-6 victory.
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After tossing her racquet to the ground in frustration, Parks met Sebov at the net.
The teenager was left furious after Sebov ‘aggressively’ squeezed her hand over the net, angrily remonstrating with her opponent after the chair umpire declined to take any action.
The umpire had to separate the two before Parks’ coach ran on to the court as well, demanding a forfeit against Sebov.
“Come on forfeit her, forfeit her. You see what we go through,” the coach could be heard saying.
“Y’all see what we go through? Y’all saw that. Everybody saw. Forfeit that garbage.”
Parks later took to Twitter to explain her side of the story, saying Sebov had slapped her hand.
“So about this whole video situation, after the last point I walked to the net the opponent slapped my hand and squeezed it harder than anyone else with aggression,” she wrote.
“I told the ref what happened, if you could see that’s why he climbed down from his chair before we could even shake.
“On top of that, if you won the match why are you squeezing my hand in aggression looked at me with anger and pushed my arm back after the handshake instead of letting go lightly?”
So about this whole video situation after the last point I walked to the net the opponent slapped my hand and squeezed it harder then anyone else with aggression I told the ref what happened if you could see that’s why he climbed down from his chair before we could even shake
— Alycia.parks (@alycia91838799) November 8, 2019
On top of that if you won the match why are you squeezing my hand in aggression looked at me with anger and pushed my arm back after the handshake instead of letting go lightly🤔
— Alycia.parks (@alycia91838799) November 8, 2019
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Australia's Fed Cup stars are staying silent on Margaret Court's grand slam 50th anniversary demands, with Tennis Australia privately frustrated the all-time great has raised her grievances on the eve of the final.
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty preparing to lead Australia in this weekend's decider against France in Perth, but Court's frosty relationship with TA is again in the spotlight.
Court wants the same recognition afforded to Rod Laver's 1969 grand slam anniversary at the Australian Open earlier this year and says she won't return to Melbourne Park unless formally welcomed back.
The 77-year-old holds the all-time record of 24 grand slam singles titles but her on-court achievements have been more recently overshadowed by her outspokenness on same-sex relationships and transgender issues.