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'Disgraceful': Fernando Verdasco blasted for berating young ball-boy

Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco has copped a backlash of criticism for berating a young ball-boy at the Shenzhen Open in China.

The 34-year-old was trailing to Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka, who rallied from a set down to take the lead, when the incident played out.

Verdasco appeared to vent his frustrations at the young ball-boy, scolding him for not delivering a towel quick enough.

Simply put, fans watching were left fuming:

Experienced Spaniard Verdasco dominated the first set, but was left stunned after Nishioka came storming back to set up an unlikely ATP final appearance.

Verdasco lost only seven points on serve in a one-sided opening set before the 22-year-old Japanese outsider warmed to the task, breaking twice in the second set and claiming the only mini-break of a final-set tie-break to go through.

But his apparent meltdown also had some fans comparing it to Serena Williams’ claims that men and women are treated differently, as Verdasco didn’t even cop a violation for the incident.

Fernando Verdasco has been blasted for berating a young ball-boy. Pic: TennisTV
Fernando Verdasco has been blasted for berating a young ball-boy. Pic: TennisTV

“This should be a code violation,” tweeted @jonnieburke

“This is what Serena was talking about men and women players are treated different,” tweeted @ArnoldT1981

“Serena is the one behaving incorrectly they said, what about Verdasco being a d*** to a kid who looks up to you,” tweeted @taylorleese

“Not the kids or the towels fault that your losing Verdasco. Can you imagine if this were Serena. Front page the very same evening,” tweeted kojie09

“You’d never see Feds, Rafa, Djokovic, Serena, Brian bro’s etc..EVER treat a volunteer like this,” tweeted @MeganHession

The unheralded Nishioka, who lost in the first round of a Challenger Tour event in Chinese Taipei last week, gained sweet revenge for being beaten by Verdasco in the first round of the French Open.

Nishioka will play in his first ever ATP final of his career against Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who saved two match points against Alex de Minaur to keep his Shenzhen Open title hopes alive.

Fernando Verdasco lost the world number 171 Yoshihito Nishioka at the Shenzhen Open. Pic: Getty
Fernando Verdasco lost the world number 171 Yoshihito Nishioka at the Shenzhen Open. Pic: Getty

Herbert was crowned doubles champion in his homeland at Roland Garros in June and he could claim a maiden singles title this weekend following a 7-5 2-6 7-6 (10-8) defeat of Australian De Minaur.

De Minaur had two chances to reach the final in a deciding breaker, but Herbert hung in there and saw off the seventh seed.

The unseeded Herbert will play in only his second ATP singles final, three years after he was defeated by Kevin Anderson in the Winston-Salem Open decider.

Andy Murray’s hilarious trophy presentation gaffe

Andy Murray was left red-faced after clumsily smashing a commemorative plate he had received prior to taking part in the Shenzhen Open.

The former world number one was gifted the plate for his contribution to tennis in China, but it didn’t last long, at all.

Murray was handed the plate to pose for a media opportunity when it just as quickly fell from the open presentation box – smashing into pieces:

He was evidently distraught at the incident, apologising to the officials as they scrambled to pick up the remains, covering his face in embarrassment.

But the 31-year-old couldn’t have been to ashamed by the events that unfolded, posting his hilarious mishap on his own social media channels for all to see shortly after.

with Omnisport.