Musetti apologized after the match by writing "sorry," and despite being booed loudly at the China Open, his autograph session remained popular.

Italian player Musetti, previously embroiled in controversy due to improper comments, played today and predictably encountered loud boos at the China Open. What attracted attention, however, was the significant crowd waiting for his autograph afterward, which triggered widespread debate among fans.

At the venue, as Musetti stepped onto the court, he was met with a barrage of boos. The Italian player was at the center of public criticism for insulting Chinese spectators in his previous match. Surprisingly, after the match ended, Musetti wrote “Sorry” with a heart symbol on camera, and a long line of fans still queued for his autograph.

The incident originated from the previous round when Musetti was upset by coughing sounds from the audience, which he felt disrupted his rhythm. He then shouted on court, “Damn Chinese, always coughing... they cough every three minutes!” He even mimicked the coughing sound himself.

After the match, this spontaneous Italian remark instantly ignited anger among Chinese fans. Ironically, multiple eyewitnesses confirmed that the coughing actually came from French supporters of Musetti’s opponent, intended to disturb his concentration.

Following the controversy, Musetti posted a lengthy apology on social media: “I sincerely apologize for what I said during yesterday’s match out of frustration. My words were directed only at a few people in the stands who kept coughing and disrupting the match.” He emphasized that “these words were absolutely not aimed at Chinese fans in general” and expressed admiration for the Chinese people.

Musetti also mentioned that he has been competing in China since 2018 and has always felt warmly welcomed here. Despite the sincerity of his apology, public anger has not been fully calmed, leading to the scene described earlier.

During the men’s singles second round, Musetti was booed continuously from his entrance to player introductions. Netizens commented, “This collective backlash was well done!” In stark contrast, the audience warmly applauded Musetti’s opponent, the veteran French player Mannarino. This clear difference in treatment silently conveyed the crowd’s stance: sportsmanship and mutual respect are inseparable.

Despite the boos, Musetti withstood the pressure and defeated Mannarino in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, advancing to the quarterfinals of the China Open men’s singles. After the match, the Italian player did not shy away from the controversy but chose to apologize once again.

He signed “Sorry” with a heart in front of the cameras, showing his remorse through actions.

In an interview, Musetti said: “Yes, honestly I knew today would be difficult. As I mentioned on court, I have apologized on social media, but I wanted to apologize in person because I think that is more appropriate.”

Opinions on Musetti’s behavior vary among domestic and international netizens. Some foreign users consider it racial discrimination and call for ATP intervention: “Why target an entire ethnicity? Honestly, this is plain racism.” Others commented, “ATP should step in, impose heavy fines, and penalize him during matches.”

However, Chinese fans show a more nuanced attitude. One user on Hupu bluntly stated, “Compared to Townsend’s evasiveness, Musetti’s apology is straightforward and responsible!” Moreover, many fans lined up for Musetti’s autograph after the match, hinting at possible forgiveness.

Will there be further developments in the Musetti incident? After two rounds of apologies, what might happen next? Let’s wait and see! (Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)