The intense match that took place on Monday in Miami between Fernando Verdasco and Thanasi Kokkinakis reached its hottest moment when Verdasco asked for the expulsion of a spectator who was bothering him, and who turned out to be the Australian tennis player's father.
In a moment during the third set, Kokkinakis complained to the chair umpire that Verdasco was "talking" on every point during his service routine.
Then, the temperamental Madrid-born player intervened and told the chair umpire that what he should do was to expel a spectator who was bothering him between his first and second service, and that he couldn't serve properly because of it.
After sitting down, an exchange of reproaches began between both players, in which Verdasco assured Kokkinakis that he didn't mean to disrespect him, but that he was talking to the chair umpire because there was a spectator bothering him.
"But he's not disrespecting you, it's my father, so it's affecting me," said the Australian, to which Verdasco replied that his father was not the spectator he was referring to.
When Kokkinakis explains that it was indeed his "damn father", Verdasco apologizes and says that he thought it was his coach, but even if he's his father, he shouldn't talk between the first and second service.
Visiblement, Fernando #Verdasco and Thanasi #Kokkinakis won't be going on vacation together... The Spanish player advances to the round of 16, after a very controversial match. #MiamiOpen. Via @SportsHorn
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After the match, which Verdasco won in the tie-break of the third set, both players shook hands in a cold and distant manner, although the incident didn't escalate further.