ATP finds no evidence Ryan Harrison used racial slur toward Donald Young at New York Open
Ryan Harrison serves to Donald Young during a first-round singles match at the New York Open at Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 12, 2018. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
No evidence was found to support an allegation that Ryan Harrison used a racial slur directed at Donald Young during their New York Open match on Monday, the Association of Tennis Professionals announced Friday after investigating the situation.
“All available evidence was reviewed, including match footage and interviews with match officials and other tournament personnel who were in close proximity of the players,” the ATP said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the audio recording on the match footage did not pick up verbal exchanges between the players. At this time, no evidence has been found to support the allegation that Ryan Harrison used a racial slur during the match.”
The pair got into a tiff during a first-set changeover that required the chair umpire to get between them. Young didn’t offer much of a handshake after losing the first-round match.
After midnight on Tuesday, Young issued a tweet that said: “I’m shocked and disappointed, Ryan Harrison, to hear you tell me how you really feel about me as a black tennis player in the middle of our NY match.”
Harrison denied the allegation both in his own tweet and in a news conference on Tuesday.
Young did not address the media on the issue.
