Daniil Medvedev flashed a steely look at Mattia Bellucci after the Italian aimed for his body twice in a single point at the Rotterdam Open.
The two players faced each other in the second round on Wednesday night, with Medvedev breezing past Stan Wawrinka in his opening match.
Bellucci sprung a surprise on Medvedev by winning the first set and it did not take long for tensions to flare up during the closely-fought encounter.
Serving to draw level at five games each in the second set, Bellucci was put on the back foot when Medvedev rushed to the net in a bid to take control of the point.
Bellucci responded by approaching the net himself and firing two shots at Medvedev’s body, with the second one hitting the target, before immediately holding up his arm to apologise.
Medvedev flinched as the ball struck his torso and flashed a stern look in the direction of Bellucci, clearly frustrated with his opponent’s tactics.
During the third set, Bellucci risked upsetting his rival even more by pulling off a cheeky underarm serve. There was no reaction from Medvedev on this occasion, though.
It came just days after the Russian found himself in a furious exchange with the chair umpire during his first-round victory over Wawrinka.
He expressed his fury after being hit with a time violation in the opening set, having seemingly been delayed by a ball kid while attempting to serve.
Medvedev raged at the ‘rubbish’ officiating despite winning the point, even referencing a previous incident involving Karen Khachanov to suggest the umpire had a history of making poor decisions.
“Why are you giving me a time violation? You have some problem,” shouted Medvedev. “She didn’t give me the ball, the ball girl. Do you see? Open your eyes.
“No, you don’t have eyes, man. You’re so bad. I remember with Karen Khachanov. I remember you don’t have eyes. Why are giving me a time violation? You have a problem. You guys are absolute rubbish every match.
“I was calm but you’re searching for trouble, man. You have some actual deep problems. I didn’t talk to you. I didn’t say anything and then you act like this.
“You have some problems, man. Open your eyes. Open your brain. I know you’re just sitting there, but think a little more.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk