Frances Tiafoe launches expletive-laden tirade at chair umpire after loss

An American tennis star has been widely condemned after he launched an expletive outburst at a chair umpire with video going viral.

American tennis star Frances Tiafoe has been widely condemned after he launched an expletive-laden outburst at a chair umpire.

The nuclear tirade came immediately after Tiafoe lost his match at the Shanghai Masters against Roman Safiullin.

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Tiafoe and Safiullin were tied 5-5 in a third-set tiebreak when chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote called the American for a time violation on his first serve.

The world number 17 was left seething and immediately protested the penalty.

“No, no, no — I tossed the ball up!” he protested, repeating several times that he had tossed the ball up for a serve before being called for the violation.

Pinoargote didn’t engage with the irate star as he declared “it’s second serve now”.

Tiafoe proceeded to lose the next two points as Safiullin claimed the 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 victory to advance to a Round of 16 contest against Novak Djokovic.

But it was after the match when Tiafoe launched into a nuclear tirade. The American refused to shake hands with the chair umpire as he blasted him with multiple F-bombs.

“F**k you man, f**k you! Seriously man, f**k you,” Tiafoe shouted.

“You f**ked me the f**king match. Three f**king hours, I’m f**king out here battling for my livelihood.”

Frances Tiafoe explodes at chair umpire.

The ugly outburst by the American star quickly whopped around social media with tennis fans divided over the display.

Tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on X: “Horrible behaviour from Frances, who should expect a big fine.”

Another person wrote: “I fully expect Frances Tiafoe’s fines to be astronomical & rightfully so bc what is this?!”

Many however were quick to defend Tiafoe and point the finger at the chair umpire over the penalty he handed out.

Budybet wrote: “Umpire gave an unwarranted time violation to Tiafoe. Frances went too far, but as an athlete, I completely understand his frustration. The umpire robbed him of a 1st serve in a crucial moment, and Foe lost the match because of it. He’ll get fined, but the umpire should face a temporary ban, like referees do in football when they make mistakes.”

Paul Johnson wrote: “Never seen an umpire do worse than this. Absolutely injecting himself into the match on two massive points with loss of serve twice on @FTiafoe who has just lambasted the umpire. The American is ropeable and hard to blame him.”

The American refused to shake hands with the umpire.

By ATP rules, Tiafoe could face a fine of up to $60,000 for verbally abusing an official.

After the contest had come to an end, Tiafoe took to social media where he apologised for his actions.

“I really apologise for the way I acted tonight. That is not who I am and not how I ever want to treat people,” Tiafoe wrote.

“I let my frustration in the heat of the moment get the best of me and I’m extremely disappointed with how I handled the situation.

“That’s not acceptable behaviour and I want to apologise to the umpire, the tournament, and the fans. I’ll be better for y’all.”

Originally published as Frances Tiafoe launches expletive-laden tirade at chair umpire after loss