Shocking Footage Emerges of Teenage French Tennis Player Slapping Ghanaian Opponent After Match in Accra

Shocking Footage Emerges of Teenage French Tennis Player Slapping Ghanaian Opponent After Match in Accra

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
  • The world of tennis was left gobsmacked after a video emerged of a teenage French player slapping his Ghanaian opponent
  • 15-year-old Michael Kouame had just lost to home favourite Raphael Nii Ankrah in Ghana's capital of Accra when the incident occurred
  • Matters did not end there, as the cheap shot then caused a brawl to break out during the International Tennis Federation juniors tournament

The world of tennis is in uproar after a video emerged of a teenage French tennis player smacking his Ghanaian opponent after an International Tennis Federation juniors tournament match in Ghana.

Michael Kouame, a 15-year-old, had just been defeated by hometown favourite Raphael Nii Ankrah 2-6, 7-6 and 6-7 in the first round of the tournament held in the capital Accra when the incident occurred. Kouame waited for the 16-year-old Ankrah to approach him at the net for the customary handshake, before slapping him with his left hand as the latter reached out.

Twitter user @Kwesi_Gibson tweeted a video of the smack, which drew gasps from the shocked onlookers.

The user then followed it up with another video of unknown individuals grabbing and punching one another, while one of them ran after a fleeing Kouame, before the video ended abruptly.

The reasons for the attack are yet to be established as the fallout continues.

Kouame was the number one seed heading into the competition, and is currently ranked number 589th on the ITF Junior Rankings. Ankrah, was way below his attacker at No. 1688 in the world rankings, and is scheduled to take on countryman Ishmael Nii Nortey in the next round of the tournament.

Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka brought to tears by heckler at BNP Paribas Open in California

A woman in the crowd at the BNP Paribas Open yelled, “Naomi, you s*ck!” at Naomi Osaka following the first game of her match Saturday evening.

As reported on Sports Brief, the comment upset the four-time Japanese Grand Slam champion, bringing her to tears on the centre court of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Spectators near to the heckler - a woman - demanded that she be thrown out for her disgraceful behaviour. However, the umpire is reported to have said that the heckler couldn't be identified, thus resuming the match.

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Keba Mothoagae photo
Keba Mothoagae
Editor- Local Desk
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