Tennis star apologizes to Chinese fans after outburst over coughing

Tennis star Lorenzo Musetti has apologized to Chinese fans after an on-court outburst in Beijing sparked outrage

Tennis star Lorenzo Musetti has apologized to Chinese fans after an on-court outburst in Beijing sparked outrage.

The Italian world No. 9 was annoyed by coughing in the crowd during his round-of-32 match against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the China Open on Friday.

In the second-set tiebreaker, Musetti lost a point to the Frenchman before shouting “these [expletive] Chinese are always coughing,” appearing to gesture to the crowd and pointing to his throat.

Local media also accused him of mouthing “damn Chinese.”

The outburst prompted outrage on social media, with accusations of racism leveled against the Italian.