FABIO FOGNINI apologised for using a homophobic slur during his defeat by Daniil Medvedev in the Olympic Games men’s singles today, using the heat as an excuse.

The volatile Italian was heard to use an Italian term that is deemed derogatory as he went out 6-3 2-6 6-2 in the third round in Tokyo.

The heat and humidity were so intense that Medvedev told the umpire he might die and, in explaining his conduct on Instagram, Fognini said: “The heat went to my head!

“In today’s match I used a really stupid expression towards myself. Obviously I didn’t want to offend anyone’s sensibilities. I love the LGBT community and I apologise for the nonsense that came out of me.”

The 34-year-old is no stranger to controversy. In 2017 he was suspended from the US Open for using misogynistic language towards an umpire, while two years later he apologised after saying he wished a bomb would explode at Wimbledon.

Earlier this year, Fognini was defaulted from a match for the first time in his career at the ATP tournament in Barcelona for abusing an official, although he protested his innocence.