Canadian world No 14 Denis Shapovalov shocked the Australian Open with an extraordinary outburst, claiming that his quarter-final opponent Rafael Nadal and other members of the so-called “Big Three” receive preferential treatment.
“I just feel like it should just be more even,” said a frustrated Shapovalov after his four-hour, five-set loss to Nadal. “Already on their own they're so tough to beat and it's so difficult. But if you give them more advantages, then it just becomes that much harder.”
This was a compelling contest in Melbourne, played out in suffocating 35-degree heat.