The French Terence Atmane battled illness to try to keep his Mexican Open campaign alivebut the journey to the quarter-finals ended bitterly this Thursday (28).
O received a penalty with loss of points for a time violation just when his opponent was serving to end the match.
Atmane, who had previously been warned for taking longer than allowed between points, was penalized by the chair umpire after asking for a towel just as Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic was preparing to serve for the win in Acapulco.
The Frenchman expressed surprise when the official announced Kecmanovic’s victory 6-3, 6-3. Part of the public reacted with boos in the stands. Atmane still argued with another referee on the court before leaving the place.
A Reuters contacted the tournament organizers in search of a position.
According to ATP rules, players have 25 seconds between points, with the chair umpire starting the timer as soon as the ball leaves . Drying yourself with a towel between points, with or without the help of a ball boy, is not considered a valid reason for delays.
Atmane used the towel frequently during the match and, with the score at 1-1 in the second set, he informed the referee that he had spent the night vomiting.
“I’m sweating too much. Calm down, give me five seconds, ok?”, said the Frenchman, after being instructed to speed up the pace.
At the end of the third game, Atmane requested medical attention and reported to the doctor present at the scene that she had been experiencing tremors and alternating sensations of heat and cold. throughout his first participation in a level quarter-final.
Following the tournament, Kecmanovic will face Flavio Cobolli in the semifinals, while Frances Tiafoe will face Brandon Nakashima.
