PARIS — Lorenzo Musetti found himself in a bit of hot water during his French Open quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday, receiving a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after kicking a tennis ball that unexpectedly struck a linesperson.
Unlike many high-profile tennis events that have embraced electronic line-calling, Roland-Garros still relies on human officials to determine whether the ball lands in or out. A distinctly traditional touch in the modern game!
The eighth-seeded Musetti, who earned a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last year, was trailing Tiafoe 5-3 in the second set during their heated clash at Court Philippe-Chatrier.
As he prepared to serve in the next game, Musetti took a playful swipe with his left foot, sending the tennis ball flying into a female line judge stationed behind his baseline.
The chair umpire promptly addressed the audience, stating that Musetti had received a warning for the code violation. Thankfully, a first-time infraction of this nature only results in a warning, not a penalty.
Moments later, Tiafoe seized the set, having lost the opener in this best-of-five matchup that held significant promise for a spot in the semifinals, a goal neither player had yet achieved at Roland-Garros.
