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Weekly Lesson: All's fair in love and war?

Published Feb 14, 2018

Given the comradery on display in America’s recent Davis Cup and Fed Cup victories, the American tennis community seems as tight-knit as it’s ever been, right?

Not so fast.

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After a heated on-court argument last night at the New York Open, Donald Young calls out Ryan Harrison on Twitter. The ATP is investigating the incident: https://t.co/Z84yfm3aYk pic.twitter.com/drjHVFvOHi
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 13, 2018

In an incident at the New York Open, an ATP World Tour 250 event in Long Island, things got heated between Ryan Harrison and Donald Young.

Neither player is shy about demonstrating how he feels on the tennis court, but what happened during one changeover is now the subject of an ATP investigation.

The ATP has released a statement about last night's New York Open match between Donald Young and Ryan Harrison (see https://t.co/Z84yfm3aYk for video and details): pic.twitter.com/LtdyLjiBdx
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 13, 2018

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It’s unclear what exactly was said, but it’s clear Harrison was unhappy with Young.

After the match, Young took to Twitter to voice his own displeasure with what he describes as racially-charged language from Harrison.

Harrison, for his part, denied any racially-motivated abuse and chalked up the incident to two guys battling to get to where they want to be.

Neither player has revealed specifically what was said (or not said). It will be up to the ATP to determine that and determine what, if any consequences, should come down as a result.

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“At the end of the day, you see everybody, you like everybody and you want to be friends and friendly with everybody, but everybody out here I compete against, even the ones I like, they are the ones trying to take away my livelihood,” Harrison said after the match. “I have to do what I can to get through, and I was proud of myself for doing that."

This isn’t the first time Harrison and Young have had some beef. Back in 2010, Harrison was selected for the final spot of the U.S. Davis Cup team, ahead of Young—who was two years older and ranked over 100 spots higher.

"Why Harrison gets chosen for the 4 man davis cup team before me???" Young Tweeted at the time.

So maybe some personal history was at play this week or maybe it’s as simple as Harrison said: It’s a dog-eat-dog world on the tour.

For both players, ranked outside the Top 40, the person on the other side of the net, no matter who he is or where he’s from, isn’t just trying to win a tennis match. He’s standing in the way of a livelihood. The tour isn’t just a business; it can be personal, and sometimes it all boils over.

Weekly Lesson: All's fair in love and war?

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This Week on Tennis Channel Plus 2/12

ATP Buenos Aires (Feb. 14-18)

-Watch Tennis Channel Plus live coverage of Dominic Thiem and Argentina Open beginning Monday February 12 at 12 p.m. ET.

-Can’t make it to Buenos Aires? Watch every match from the Argentina Open on-demand with Tennis Channel Plus.

ATP Rotterdam (Feb. 13-14)

-Don’t miss extended ATP Rotterdam Court 1 coverage live on Tennis Channel Plus Tuesday February 13 at 6 a.m. ET.

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