Dan Evans launched into a furious tirade at Italian Open umpire Mohamed Lahyani and was told off for unsportsmanlike conduct during his first-round clash with home favourite Fabio Fognini. The Brit lost 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 and could not set up a tie with Taylor Fritz, blasting the opinion of the match official in the process.
A call deep into the deciding set caused controversy in Rome, as Evans was on the verge of breaking Fognini and thought he had won the point but the umpire incorrectly ruled that the Italian star’s effort had landed safely.
Sky Sports cameras spotted that Fognini’s shot had bounced out of play despite Lahyani’s ruling, as Evans took the umpire over to where the ball had landed and left a mark outside of the white line.
The umpire had no time for Evans’ protests, however, even though the 33-year-old also pulled across his opponent to join in the conversation, but was overruled once again.
Evans could not believe that the incorrect decision was made as he grew more irate during a break in play and began swearing at the official, resulting in a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Listen to me!” Evans shouted on the sideline before Lahyani responded: “Talk to me in a professional manner. You don’t scream at me. Don’t scream at me. We can talk at normal please.”
A bemused Evans brought up how the umpire was unable to show him where he thought the ball had landed, adding: “Listen, listen to me. All I am asking of you is to show me where the ball landed, you couldn’t, because you didn’t know.”
He then asked the official, who Andy Murray had a similar run-in with last season, why he was punished for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Lahyani explained: “Yes, because you have used the F-word today. I totally agree (that Evans had his point of view) but you don’t shout at me and use the F-word. If you had talked to me in a normal way I would have accepted it.”
After the official discredited Evans’ claims by saying that he showed him “marks way out” the world No. 67 raised an eyebrow and explained that it was only a short distance out, adding: “Just be honest about it.”
