Angry after losing, he smashed his racket violently, nearly hitting a fan, sparking public outrage; netizens demand severe punishment for Van de Zandschulp.

Known as "Chef Van" by outsiders, the Dutchman Van de Zandschulp gained huge attention in Shanghai this time—not because of an outstanding display at the Shanghai Masters, but due to an emotional meltdown that was described as remarkable.

To be precise, the match between Van de Zandschulp and Borges was not highly anticipated before it started, probably because neither player is very well-known.

Nonetheless, some fans still came to the venue to support the players, hoping to witness some exciting moments, making their long wait worthwhile.

However, many were left disappointed because Van de Zandschulp was clearly outmatched by Borges, remaining on the defensive throughout and eventually losing in straight sets, exiting the Shanghai Masters in the first round.

Although the match ended quietly, the post-match discussion became extremely heated, with the topic overshadowing the match itself, mainly due to Van de Zandschulp’s emotional breakdown.

In the fifth game of the first set, after Borges broke the Dutchman’s serve, Van de Zandschulp, already under immense pressure, completely lost control of his emotions. What was initially frustrating enough—throwing the ball out of the court—escalated when he slammed his racket forcefully onto the ground, sending it flying into the stands. When this moment was caught on camera and it was seen that the racket almost hit a spectator, everyone watching the live broadcast was shocked.

Some remarked that luckily there weren’t many spectators present; had the stands been half full or more, Van de Zandschulp’s dangerous action could have seriously injured someone. “He should feel fortunate that the crowd was small and no disaster occurred. If the racket had struck a fan, even without visible bleeding, it could have caused serious injury.”

After this frightening incident caused by Van de Zandschulp’s loss, many expected him to face severe punishment. However, the referee only issued a warning; moreover, the Dutch player seemed unconcerned about the severity of the situation, offering no apology. These factors combined to provoke widespread anger.

Many voiced that while it’s understandable to be upset after losing and to vent emotions, ignoring spectator safety is utterly unacceptable. Yet he received only a mild warning, which left people deeply frustrated and demanding that the ATP impose strict sanctions on "Chef Van" to appease public anger.

Interestingly, as calls for harsher punishment grew louder, voices defending the Dutchman also emerged.

Supporters argued that players endure immense pressure during matches, and “a slight emotional outburst is understandable; after all, Chef Van is neither the first nor will be the last to lose control.”

The emergence of supporters sparked a heated debate within public opinion.

Opponents countered that while other players have lost their temper, have they ever thrown rackets dangerously close to injuring spectators? If Van de Zandschulp wanted to vent, he could have done so without putting the audience at risk. “Fans come to enjoy the match and support players; do they deserve to be violently endangered by Chef Van? What did they do to deserve such danger?”

Others felt the punishment for Van de Zandschulp’s “lightly lifted and gently put down” sanction was too lenient, reasoning that it’s not just about compensating the nearly hit spectator but emphasizing that “his behavior not only spoils the atmosphere but sets a bad example—if everyone imitates this and penalties remain mild, will fans still dare to attend matches?”

Given how much this incident has stirred public opinion, even those inclined to defend Van de Zandschulp will likely reconsider due to the pressure and impact of the backlash. Some have suggested that the Dutchman might still face a fine.

However, others stressed that any penalty Van de Zandschulp receives is self-inflicted, and it’s the unfortunate spectators who suffer, having to watch matches with fear. Some fans expressed concern that after the racket incident, they worry whether the Dutchman might continue to act irrationally or take even more extreme measures, fearing they might become unintended targets of his outbursts.

Everyone is waiting to see if Van de Zandschulp will issue a formal apology to calm the storm, and whether the authorities will indeed fine him as some speculate.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Starry Sky of the Moon River)