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'My f***in racquet': Tennis players in ugly clash over 'handshake'

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·2-min read
Tennis player Dan Evans (pictured right) reaches out to touch rackets with Kyle Edmund's (pictured left) after their match.
Tennis player Dan Evans (pictured right) took exception to Kyle Edmund's (pictured left) 'handshake' at the end of their match in the 'Battle of the Brits' tournament. (Image: Twitter)

British stars Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans have clashed after a new handshake, to abide by social-distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, went awfully wrong.

Evans defeated Edmund in the ‘Battle of the Brits’ exhibition tournament 6-4, 6-4, which appears to be following stricter social-distancing rules than Novak Djokovic’s ill-fated Adria Tour.

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But the fiery match came to a crescendo during the post-match encounter when Evans fired up at Edmund.

Instead of shaking hands, to abide by social-distancing rules, players have been tapping tennis racquets as a sign of sportsmanship.

But Edmund appeared to slap away Evans’ racquets, which infuriated the British No.1 star.

“Be very careful Kyle, be very careful mate,” Evans said at the net.

Evans fumes after Edmund clash

Not long after, Evans could be heard telling his teammate: “My f***in racquets.”

“Did you see what he did to my racquet?

“He just teed my racquet. When I put my racquet there, he just absolutely belted my racquet.”

The commentator pointed out after the match there was a lot of ‘tension’ between the pair as the match was important.

Fans on social media agreed Edmund was overzealous and appeared to take his frustration out on Evans.

Evan’s victory on day two of the competition was one of just two wins for the Union Jacks.

Andy Murray went on to lose in the Mixed Doubles with the British Bulldogs leading the Union Jacks 18-8.