The world of tennis is in uproar after a video emerged of a teenage French tennis player smacking his Ghanaian opponent after an International Tennis Federation juniors tournament match in Ghana. Michael Kouame, a 15-year-old, had just been defeated by hometown favourite Raphael Nii Ankrah 2-6, 7-6 and 6-7 in the first round of the tournament held in the capital Accra when the incident occurred.
Kouame waited for the 16-year-old Ankrah to approach him at the net for the customary handshake, before slapping him with his left hand as the latter reached out.
The user then followed it up with another video of unknown individuals grabbing and punching one another, while one of them ran after a fleeing Kouame, before the video ended abruptly.
The reasons for the attack are yet to be established as the fallout continues. Kouame was the number one seed heading into the competition, and is currently ranked number 589th on the ITF Junior Rankings. Ankrah, was way below his attacker at No. 1688 in the world rankings, and is scheduled to take on countryman Ishmael Nii Nortey in the next round of the tournament.
