The ATP has launched an investigation into allegations that Ryan Harrison made racial comments towards another player during a match at the New York Open.
On Monday the American was involved in a heated exchange with Donald Young during their first round clash. After the match, world No.65 Young accused Harrison of making a racist gesture towards him in a social media post on Twitter. Something he has since denied as he claims that the incident would not draw as much attention if it took place during an NFL match.
Despite Harrison’s efforts to brush aside the controversy, the incident is now being reviewed by the governing body of men’s tennis. In a statement on Tuesday, the ATP said that they take allegations of racism ‘extremely serious.’
“The ATP takes any allegations of racial prejudice extremely seriously. A further review of all video and audio recording from the match will take place as this matter is investigated further. No further comment will be made until the completion of the investigation.”
It has been claimed that Harrison made the slur after witnessing Young do a fist pump. According to TennisNow Valentina Lee, Young’s girlfriend, claimed that he said ‘that what you black people do.’ Some members of the crowd also claimed to have heard racial remarks, but there is yet to be any video or audio evidence to prove this.
“Ryan Harrison told DY “That’s what all you black people do” after he was upset that DY cheered C’mon to pump himself up. So who’s the real loser? #racist.” Lee wrote on Twitter.
The world No.45, who has one ATP title to his name, continues to plead his innocence in the wake of the controversy. Trying his best divert attention away from the incident when talking with reporters after the match.
“We both started at a very young age on tour,” he told TennisNow. “And we both have a lot of pressure and expectations on ourselves that we have been dealing with for a long time.I’ve been really fortunate to fought through a lot of the adversity. And Donald is, I feel, is trying to fight through the adversity. He’s trying to break back into where he wants to be.”
If found guilty, Harrison would be eligible for a fine or even a suspension by the ATP for racism.
