Quarterfinal Match Incident
During the quarterfinal match of the French Open on Tuesday, Italian player Lorenzo Musetti received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after a tennis ball he kicked accidentally struck a line judge. This incident occurred at Roland-Garros, where human officials are still present to make calls, unlike many other elite tournaments that employ electronic line-calling technology.
Match Overview
Musetti, the eighth seed in the tournament and a bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics, found himself trailing Frances Tiafoe 5-3 in the second set at Court Philippe-Chatrier after losing a game. As he prepared to serve, he attempted to kick a ball out of his way, which ended up flying towards a female line judge situated behind the baseline.
Chair Umpire’s Response
The chair umpire promptly addressed the crowd, informing them of Musetti’s warning for this code violation; however, there is no immediate penalty for an initial warning.
Shortly after the incident, Tiafoe went on to win the set. Earlier in the match, Musetti had taken the first set, but both players were vying for their first semifinal appearance at Roland-Garros.
