World No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz says that he did not criticize a ball boy during his 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 loss to No. 40 Thomaz Bellucci in the second round of Miami. Reports had it Janowicz lost his temper during the match and that the crowd was behind the Brazilian Bellucci, possibly to the point of insulting the Pole.
“After my match, which was recorded and available for everyone, I got to know that [it was publicized that] I harmed a ball boy; I am powerless,” Janowicz wrote on Facebook. “I have never insulted or harmed ball boy, because that situation wasn’t his fault! As for other incorrect information—I wasn’t quarreling with the umpire. I was DISCUSSING with him in a courtesy way! Do you know about what?...From the very beginning there was a problem with Brazilian audience (80% of total amount). When I was entering the court, the fans of Bellucci were approaching me and shouting 'Poland go home!'
"In the first set the audience was whistling when I showed the umpire the print of the ball. But probably in general opinion showing the umpire that he made a mistake is a gross, intolerable and boorish behavior. Also in the first set when I was tying my shoe, Brazilian audience woke up again and started to shout and whistle. If I knew it was a problem, I would order a pair of shoes with Velcro. …Bellucci’s coach intervened a few times and tried to calm down the fans of his player. I would tolerate everything, but when they started to insult at me in Russian I decided it was too much. Even my coach, who is considered to be 'an oasis of peace', bursted out and quarreled with the people, who were throwing rubbish at him and showing some strange gestures from the beginning of the match.”