French tennis player Terence Atmane was left stunned after a time violation on match point cost him the quarter-final of the Mexican Open in Acapulco, handing a straight-sets victory to Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic.
The 24-year-old, struggling with illness, had earlier received a warning from chair umpire Scottie Moore for taking too long between points while retrieving his towel. Atmane pleaded for leniency, saying he had been sick through the night and needed extra time.
On Kecmanovic's fourth match point, with the score at 6-3 5-3, Atmane again moved towards his towel box. The umpire signalled to Kecmanovic that Atmane was ready, prompting Atmane to protest, 'I'm not.' The umpire then imposed a point penalty, ending the match instantly. Atmane stood motionless in disbelief before Kecmanovic approached to shake hands.
Under ATP rules, players have 25 seconds between points, with the chair umpire starting the shot clock after the previous point. Atmane had also called for a trainer after the third game of the second set, complaining of trembling and sweating.
