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https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/sports/tennis/donald-young-racism-ryan-harrison.html?referer=
Flash of Anger, a Charge of Racism and a Witness Who Says It Didn’t Happen
The ATP, the organization that runs the men’s professional tennis tour, announced on Friday that its investigation of the incident found no evidence to support Young’s claim.
“All available evidence was reviewed including match footage and interviews with match officials and other tournament personnel who were in close proximity of the players,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, the audio recording on the match footage did not pick up verbal exchanges between the players. At this time no evidence has been found to support the allegation that Ryan Harrison used a racial slur during the match.”
Michael Bruno, 26, above, who served as a ball person at the New York Open on Monday, witnessed the tense exchange between the tennis players Donald Young and Ryan Harrison, and then gave his account to investigators at the ATP. He also made his account public.
Asked several times if he could have missed it, Bruno, who is white, said it was possible but unlikely.
“I guess if he whispered it,” he said. “But I never saw anything that shows one of them was whispering. And I would still be in close proximity.”
It is unclear whether the ATP will penalize either player. Harrison and Young have a history of acrimony, and Harrison is known on the tour for his aggressive and abrasive manner, often incurring the ire of opponents and tournament officials.
Bruno said he generally likes Young more than Harrison because Young is more approachable on court. But he said that he witnessed “ridiculous, immature behavior” from both players.
During its investigation, the ATP interviewed the umpire and the ball people and reviewed video of the incident, which shows Bruno standing behind Harrison. Audio of the exchange is unclear, but Bruno, who can be seen on the video drinking from a bottle of water and smirking, said he smiled because he thought the players were joking at first.
Harrison, he said, told Young not to audibly celebrate Harrison’s mistakes on the court, something that is considered poor sportsmanship in tennis. Young told Harrison to shut up, using an expletive. Bruno also said that Young leveled an abusive, nonracial, term at Harrison and challenged him to a fight. Harrison responded by holding his hand out, mocking Young for being short.
“Donald Young said, ‘Let’s take this outside, let’s fight outside,’ ” Bruno said. “Ryan kept saying, ‘You’re this tall,’ and kept gesturing with his hand, ‘You’re this tall, you’re this tall.’ ”
At that point, the umpire came down from his chair and separated the players. Later, Young took a bathroom break and Bruno said he heard the chair umpire say something to Harrison that appeared to be a warning.
“Harrison said, ‘You should really be addressing him and give him a talking to,’ ” Bruno said, “and that was that.”
Flash of Anger, a Charge of Racism and a Witness Who Says It Didn’t Happen
The ATP, the organization that runs the men’s professional tennis tour, announced on Friday that its investigation of the incident found no evidence to support Young’s claim.
“All available evidence was reviewed including match footage and interviews with match officials and other tournament personnel who were in close proximity of the players,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, the audio recording on the match footage did not pick up verbal exchanges between the players. At this time no evidence has been found to support the allegation that Ryan Harrison used a racial slur during the match.”
Michael Bruno, 26, above, who served as a ball person at the New York Open on Monday, witnessed the tense exchange between the tennis players Donald Young and Ryan Harrison, and then gave his account to investigators at the ATP. He also made his account public.
Asked several times if he could have missed it, Bruno, who is white, said it was possible but unlikely.
“I guess if he whispered it,” he said. “But I never saw anything that shows one of them was whispering. And I would still be in close proximity.”
It is unclear whether the ATP will penalize either player. Harrison and Young have a history of acrimony, and Harrison is known on the tour for his aggressive and abrasive manner, often incurring the ire of opponents and tournament officials.
Bruno said he generally likes Young more than Harrison because Young is more approachable on court. But he said that he witnessed “ridiculous, immature behavior” from both players.
During its investigation, the ATP interviewed the umpire and the ball people and reviewed video of the incident, which shows Bruno standing behind Harrison. Audio of the exchange is unclear, but Bruno, who can be seen on the video drinking from a bottle of water and smirking, said he smiled because he thought the players were joking at first.
Harrison, he said, told Young not to audibly celebrate Harrison’s mistakes on the court, something that is considered poor sportsmanship in tennis. Young told Harrison to shut up, using an expletive. Bruno also said that Young leveled an abusive, nonracial, term at Harrison and challenged him to a fight. Harrison responded by holding his hand out, mocking Young for being short.
“Donald Young said, ‘Let’s take this outside, let’s fight outside,’ ” Bruno said. “Ryan kept saying, ‘You’re this tall,’ and kept gesturing with his hand, ‘You’re this tall, you’re this tall.’ ”
At that point, the umpire came down from his chair and separated the players. Later, Young took a bathroom break and Bruno said he heard the chair umpire say something to Harrison that appeared to be a warning.
“Harrison said, ‘You should really be addressing him and give him a talking to,’ ” Bruno said, “and that was that.”
