Musetti apologises for outburst at 'coughing' China Open fans / Photo: © AFP
-
England's Rashford unfazed by high-altitude Mexico World Cup test
-
Iranians begin to gather for Khamenei funeral ceremonies
-
In Brazil, Bolsonaro family airs feud ahead of elections
-
England v Mexico World Cup kickoff could be moved earlier: source
-
Postecoglou links up with Ronaldo at Al Nassr
-
Frustrated families demand recovery of Venezuela's earthquake dead
-
Sabalenka sets up Wimbledon last-16 clash with Osaka
-
Williams sisters return, Swiatek faces Eala test at Wimbledon
-
Dangerous heatwave hits peak temps along US east coast
-
'Ecstatic' Hamilton rolls back the years with Silverstone pole
-
LeBron's agent makes case for 10 new clubs for 41-year-old star
-
England enter World Cup lion's den as Mexico host them at Azteca fortress
-
Trump heads for Mount Rushmore as US turns 250
-
Hamilton beats Antonelli to British GP sprint pole with supreme lap
-
French Top 14 champions Toulouse fined for salary cap breaches
-
Title rivals Djokovic and Sinner advance at Wimbledon
-
Record-equalling Djokovic powers into Wimbledon last 16
-
Ferrari confirm Hamilton staying next year
-
Ruthless Sinner powers into Wimbledon last 16
-
Global frenzy over Swift, Kelce's glittering 'royal wedding'
-
England's Kane feels 'as good as ever' ahead of Mexico World Cup clash
-
Three acquitted of 2019 murder of N.Irish journalist Lyra McKee
-
French Top 14 champions Toulouse fined for salary breaches
-
Stokes bids farewell to fans after 'mad 15 years'
-
Thousands more head for South Africa's borders
-
One for the history books: what we know about the European heatwave
-
Australia upbeat about 'ultimate professional' Perry's fitness for World Cup final
-
Dutch FA to sue over racist slurs after World Cup exit
-
Ukraine backers to vow major support at NATO summit
-
Mercedes demos set stage for wave of German auto protests
-
Ayuso happy to fly under radar at Tour de France
-
Iran leaders pay last respects to Khamenei as mourners gather
-
Curran ready to fill England gap left by Stokes exit
-
UN issues 'red alert' over 'catastrophe' in Sudan's El-Obeid
-
Djokovic has history on the line at Wimbledon
-
Tour de France to start with team time-trial 'bang'
-
Hamilton sparkles in Silverstone sunshine
-
Dressed for success: Osaka reaches Wimbledon last 16 for first time
-
Swift and Kelce set to tie the knot in glitzy arena extravaganza
-
Bayern sign Germany defender Brown until 2031
-
Police hunt for Ukrainian woman over Monaco bomb attack
-
MEXC's June Highlights: $437 Billion in Trading Volume, Offering Access to 7,000+ US Stocks and ETFs
-
Kenya's abortion taboo is killing thousands of women
-
Stocks mostly rise as beaten-down tech stocks enjoy bounce
-
Madonna returns to form with dancefloor filler "Confessions II"
-
Iranian leaders pay respects to supreme leader as Tehran prepares for funeral
-
Dean says Australia final a 'fresh start' for England
-
Doubles not a 'carnival sideshow' say players amid schedule row
-
Wimbledon giving Serena 'as much time' as possible for doubles
-
Klopp in 'talks' for Germany job after Nagelsmann exit: federation
Musetti apologises for outburst at 'coughing' China Open fans
Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti apologised on Saturday for an on-court outburst at people coughing in the crowd at the China Open.
The 23-year-old was visibly frustrated at one moment of his three-set win over Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Friday in Beijing.
The fourth seed mimicked a person clearing their throat and said in Italian: "They cough every three seconds."
Local media, including state-owned The Paper, accused him of also mouthing "damn Chinese".
"My words were directed only at a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly and disturbing the play," Musetti wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
"They were never, in any way, meant for the Chinese people.
"It happened in a moment of stress and tension in the second tiebreak, but still, this is no excuse at all.
"I realise that the way I expressed myself was wrong and inappropriate, and it hurt many Chinese fans' feelings."
He next plays 37-year-old Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the last 16 of the China Open.
Musetti lost the Chengdu Open final to qualifier Alejandro Tabilo of Chile on Tuesday.
The Italian's remorse comes after American Taylor Townsend received a backlash for making disparaging comments about food served in China while competing at the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen.
The US Open doubles finalist later pulled out of the China Open citing schedule changes.
S.Gantenbein--VB
