Mudabala Citi DC Open points and prize money reinstated for Denis Shapovalov

ATP partly rules in Denis Shapovalov’s favor and upholds a fine for unsporting conduct.

Denis Shapovalov crashed out of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in rather dramatic fashion. Facing American Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, Shapovalov was trailing 6-3 in the second after losing the first set, 7-6 (5). With Shelton on triple-match point, the Canadian threw his racket on the ground and had an aggressive exchange of words with a fan.

A code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct was given even as the umpire summoned the supervisor. Shapovalov, a one-time World No. 10, was docked his prize money and points for his last eight appearances, apart from being disqualified.

On appeal, the ATP deemed the automatic loss of points and prize money to be a disproportionate penalty for the player’s actions. On Monday, the governing body restored both to the Canadian, but upheld the $36,400 fine for the violation.

Shelton, looking to make his first tour-level final since Houston in April of this year, bowed out to Italian Flavio Cobolli for the second time in 2024. The 21-year-old American lost to Cobolli despite taking a first set lead to eventually lose 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Shelton’s compatriot, Seb Korda, went on to claim the Mudabala Citi DC Open title.

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By winning the Washington-based event, Sebastian Korda emulated his father, Petr Korda, who won the then-Sovran Bank Classic 32 years earlier in 1992. The 24-year-old Sebastian Korda beat Flavio Cobolli, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, to become the first American since Andy Roddick in 2007 to win the title at the ATP 500 event.

Both Korda and Cobolli have reached new highs in the ATP rankings following the conclusion of the Mudabala DC Open. Korda broke into the top 20 for the first time, having jumped four places to No. 18 after his second ATP tour title. Cobolli has moved up 15 spots to reach a career-high of No. 33. 

Shapovalov will be on home turf for the National Bank Open in Montreal, where he will play the opening round on Wednesday against a qualifier. Ben Shelton will also be heading north for the ATP Masters event, where he and Shapovalov are in opposite halves of the draw.

World No.1 Jannik Sinner is the defending champion at the Montreal ATP Masters 1000 event and is in the second round with a bye. He will face either Spaniard Pedro Martínez or a qualifier in the second round.

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