Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport

Video Credit: Golders

This is the moment a supporter in the player’s box kicks and punches a rival teenage fan in front of the player’s mum and dad during a WTA China Open match.

The incident occurred during the match between Chinese star Shuai Zhang and German tennis player Angelique Kerber at the WTA China Open in the Diamond Court in Beijing, China when two men had a physical altercation which resulted in both being kicked out of the stadium.

The video shows the moment a man sitting in Zhang’s box beats a young fan wearing a blue shirt. He is seen kicking the young fan repeatedly as he tries to stand up.

Even though several people try to get between the two, the man standing in the player’s box pushes through and lands several kicks before stopping.

There are contradicting reports on the man’s identity. Several media outlets, including respected Spanish news outlet Antena 3, report his name as Shuo Liu who is Zhang’s tennis coach.

Other media report he is Liu’s brother while some report he was simply a fan. However according to eyewitness reports the man was sitting in Zhang’s player box alongside her parents.

Local media report the altercation came after the fan, whose identity has not been revealed but is reportedly 19 years old, was cheering on the German player.

The man sitting in the Zhang’s box reportedly asked “for silence out of respect” after the 19-year-old fan “cheered during some key plays”. Not long after tempers flared and the fight broke out.

Kerber ultimately won the match in three sets (6-2, 1-6, 6-4) which allowed her to advance to the round of 32 but she lost to the Slovenian Polona Hercog in two sets (4-6, 2-6) on Tuesday 1st October.

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