Holger Rune has criticised the ATP Tour on social media following the controversy surrounding his Monte Carlo Masters quarter-final encounter against Jannik Sinner.
World No 7 Rune was beaten 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 in a high-quality contest on Friday, a result that will see the Dane drop out of the top 10 of the ATP Rankings.
However, the result was overshadowed by yet another on-court controversy in Monte Carlo, where Rune heavily contested an unsportsmanlike conduct warning given against him.
After receiving an initial time violation serving at 5-5, 0-30 down in the second set, the Dane stoked the ire of the Monte Carlo crowd by making a gesture that appeared to tell them to be quiet.
This led to umpire Damien Dumusois handing Rune the unsportsmanlike conduct warning, a decision that led to Rune refusing to play until the supervisor had been called.
Unable to overturn the warning, Rune saved two match points to force a deciding set, though could not turn the contest around entirely.
The quarter-final was the second match scheduled on Monte Carlo’s centre court on Friday, coming after Rune had played a fourth round against Grigor Dimitrov that had taken over three hours and gone late into the previous evening.
Rune was also in doubles action on Friday and, in response to a post from the ATP about Jannik Sinner, the Dane did not hold back in his criticism of the scheduling and the umpiring call.
“Meaning what @atptour…,” Rune retorted. “Not that you gave me the best conditions in the first place having to play 2 matches the day before ending late, leaving almost no recovery time.
“Chair Umpire making crucial mistakes and giving wrong warning that disturbed the game. May the force be with you…Jesus Christ.”
In a previous tweet, Rune had congratulated Sinner on his victory and performance, having openly spoken about his respect for the Italian previously.
It continues what has been a tumultuous week for officials in Monte Carlo, after two incidents involving Daniil Medvedev earlier in the week.
The former US Open champion fumed after multiple controversial line calls in his opening match against Gael Monfils, before throwing his racket into the backboard amid further line call complaints in his loss to Karen Khachanov.
After his dramatic week on the French Riviera, Rune will be back in action next week in Munich, where he looks to defend his title at the ATP 250 event.
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