French tennis professional Terence Atmane was left in a state of utter disbelief after a point penalty for a time violation on match point resulted in his dramatic and unusual exit from the Mexican Open in Acapulco. The 24-year-old succumbed to a straight-sets defeat, 6-3, 6-3, against Serbian opponent Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarter-finals, a match overshadowed by controversy and Atmane's reported illness.
Illness and Frustration on Court
Atmane had been visibly struggling throughout the encounter, informing chair umpire Scottie Moore that he had been sick through the night and was experiencing severe sweating. Earlier in the second set, after receiving a warning for taking too much time to retrieve his towel, Atmane pleaded, "I'm sweating like crazy. Like relax, give me five seconds okay?" His physical distress was further confirmed when he called for a medical treatment after the third game of the second set, telling the trainer, "I'm sick, I'm trembling and sweating a lot."
The Decisive Moment
The critical incident occurred with Kecmanovic serving for the match at 6-3, 5-3, on his fourth match point. As Kecmanovic prepared to serve, Atmane again moved towards his towel box. The umpire indicated to Kecmanovic, "he's ready," prompting Atmane to retort, "I'm not." Immediately, the umpire issued a point penalty to Atmane for the time violation, effectively ending the match. The official then announced Kecmanovic as the winner to the crowd, leaving Atmane frozen in place, stunned, before Kecmanovic crossed the net to offer a handshake.
ATP Rules and Aftermath
Under ATP regulations, players are allotted 25 seconds between points, with the chair umpire initiating the shot clock at the conclusion of the previous point. Atmane's repeated delays, despite his illness, led to the strict enforcement. The match concluded in a manner rarely seen in professional tennis, with the violation directly awarding the final point and victory to Kecmanovic. This incident highlights the stringent application of time rules, even in circumstances where a player is evidently unwell, sparking discussions about discretion in officiating.
