Rafael Nadal Academy’s graduate Abdullah Shelbayh has blasted the ‘absolutely disgraceful’ organisation of the Nottingham Open ATP Challenger event. During Shelbayh’s second-qualifying-round clash against Joris De Loore the players were forced to switch surfaces from grasscourt to hardcourt due to the outdoor surface being deemed unplayable due to yesterday’s downpour.
But Shelbayh claims the decision was made prematurely as the officials were keen to head home early rather than wait for the rain to stop.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: “One hour and 30 minutes played on outdoor grass. Play got suspended and the tournament directors and supervisors didn’t even wait till the last delay to play outdoors just because they wanna go home.
“Somehow we end up continuing the match indoors, hard without even hard court shoes. Great job @atpchallengertour maybe it’s time for you guys to do something about this horrendous organization in a tournament of that category. Absolutely disgraceful.”
Shelbayh went on to claim that the players had also received fines for not having the appropriate gear for a hardcourt surface. “We end up getting fined while the supervisors and tournament directors eat and sleep and earn money,” he added.
