French wild card Arthur Gea dashed off the court for an emergency bathroom break during his debut at the French Open on Sunday, leaving spectators and his opponent bewildered.
Unexpected Interruption
Early in the first set, the 21-year-old Gea, ranked 135th, informed the chair umpire in French, "I need to go to the bathroom. I can't move anymore. I'm going to (go) on the court." He then hastily exited Court Suzanne-Lenglen while trailing 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov 4-2.
Typically, bathroom breaks are only allowed between sets. Khachanov protested to the umpire as three minutes elapsed between games at a point that was not a changeover. Gea later explained that the umpire permitted the break due to "medical circumstances" and that he received medication to settle his stomach pain.
Health Struggles in the Heat
Gea revealed after the match that he had not felt ill the night before but began feeling unwell upon waking. "During the match it was even worse," he said. "I had to go to the toilet really quick." The intense heat at Roland Garros, with lunchtime temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit), exacerbated his condition. "It was harder than usual, because I was ill," he added.
Gea, who received a wild card invitation from Roland Garros organizers, ultimately lost the match 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-0 to Khachanov.
