French teen tennis player slaps opponent after losing match, issues apology

A top-seeded junior French tennis participant apologized for slapping an opponent after shedding a match match.

Michael Kouame was the No. 1 seed going into the Worldwide Tennis Federation’s junior match in Ghana. After shedding to Raphael Nii Ankrah on Tuesday, the 15-year-old was seen coming to the online for what was alleged to be a gesture of fine sportsmanship however as a substitute slapped Nii Ankrah.

A brawl reportedly broke out after the slap.

Kouame on Wednesday posted an apology on his Instagram web page.

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“I sincerely remorse my actions on Tuesday on the ITF Match in Ghana in opposition to Raphael Nii Ankrah. I regretfully struck him after a particularly irritating and intense match,” Kouame wrote.

“Through the course of the match, I used to be repeatedly verbally abused by numerous people within the crowd, together with insults to my mom specifically. Nonetheless, that doesn’t excuse my conduct. I wish to publicly apologize to Raphael. I used to be improper and fully out of line.

“I settle for any penalties on account of my conduct from the ITF governing physique, and can use this time to mirror on how I can higher handle difficult conditions like these sooner or later in a way that precisely mirror my character.”

The ITF has but at hand out punishment over the incident.