"So honest" - Shang Juncheng hits out at Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with sarcastic dig after a controversial double bounce at Madrid Open

China's Juncheng Shang expressed his disappointment over a controversial double-bounce incident during his Madrid Open match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain.

Shang and Davidovich Fokina squared off for a second-round round match at the 2024 Madrid Open. In a match that lasted 1 hour 45 minutes, the 24-year-old Spaniard defeated the Chinese 7-5, 6-3 in straight sets to qualify for the next round. He will now face Russia's Andrey Rublev in the round of 32.

The match had a double-bounce controversy. Shang Juncheng after his defeat, expressed his displeasure over the incident as he took to social media taking an indirect dig at Alejandro Davidovich Fokina by sarcastically terming him an honest player.

Shang on his Instagram story tagging the Madrid Open, wrote

"Highlight of the day at @mutuamadridopen. Always nice to play a player that's so honest (emoji)"

Screenshot of Shang's Insta story

During the first set, chair umpire missed a very clear double-bounce that occurred when the Spaniard tried to return the ball to Shang's side. It was a crucial point in the context of the game, which the Spaniard won helping him clinch the first set.

In the second set, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina broke Shang's serve in the second game. He later once again was successful in breaking the serve which resulted in him winning the second set by a 6-3 margin and as a result qualifying for the next round of the 2024 Madrid Open.

A video has surfaced online in which the ball can be seen touching the ground clearly before the Spaniard who was sliding forward, could put his racket on the ball.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to take on Andrey Rublev in Madrid Open 3R

Andrey Rublev makes his way to the court at the Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2023 -

After his controversial win over Shang Juncheng in the second round of the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open, the Spaniard will now have a tougher challenge as he faces Andrey Rublev in the next round of the tournament.

Russia's Rublev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina have crossed each other's path three times in their career with World No. 8 being victorious in all of them. Rublev won their previous encounter at last year's Italian Open in straight sets.

Andrey Rublev had a dominating victory as he defeated Argentina's Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 6-4 in straight sets. This was his first victory after suffering four defeats on the trot.