Andrey Rublev was spotted in the home side’s keeper after a dazzling play from the right.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev has said “I’ve lost my mind” after breaking an angry ball that nearly missed a player on the court at the French Open on Wednesday (AEST).
The world number seven shot the ball against a court chair after dropping the first set of his first-round match against South Korean Kwon Soon-woo.
He then bounced and passed the head of the gardener, who was brushing the clay surface of the track between sets.
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“I lost my mind for a while and of course I regret what I did. It’s unacceptable to hit like I hit the ball, “said the Russian, who won 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
“Better if you just hit the racket in the seat, because the ball can hit someone.
“This is not professional on my part, and I hope I never do it again.”
Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the U.S. Open in 2020 when he angrily hit a ball that hit a line judge.
On the other hand, world number two Daniil Medvedev advanced to the second round but could not escape the shadow of Wimbledon, the Grand Slam tournament where he has been declared persona non grata.
Medvedev, who arrived in Paris with just one game on clay this year after hernia surgery, defeated Argentine Facundo Bagnis, 103rd, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 with 35 winners and eight service breaks.
“I love Roland Garros, especially since last year,” said Medvedev, who had lost in the first round on his first four trips before reaching the quarter-finals in 2021.
“I hope this year can go further.”
One place he will not go, however, is the All England Club next month after Wimbledon banned all Russian and Belarusian players in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The ATP and WTA responded by eliminating the qualifying points for the sport’s most prestigious tournament.
One day after former world number one Naomi Osaka revealed she was “inclined not to play” at Wimbledon while defending champion Novak Djokovic said she would play, despite losing 2,000 points, in what she described as a “loss situation”. loss, “the controversy showed. there are no signs of decline.
“I will go there to get my prize, as I would for an exhibition tournament,” said Frenchman Benoit Paire after a 6-3, 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 defeat to Ilya Ivashka.
Stating that “99 percent” of the players want a Wimbledon with points, he added: “I’m sorry for Russia and the Russians, but they are the ones causing all the problems.”
Denis Shapovalov, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2021, said he was opposed to both the ban and the decision to withdraw points.
“I think they could have gone the other way, maybe keeping 50% as they did in the past,” the Canadian said.
The biggest loser in the women’s field will be Karolina Pliskova, who will leave the 1,000 points to finish runner-up against the now retired Ashleigh Barty in 2021.
She also wants 50 percent of the points to be kept. He intends to return to the All England Club.
“If you like the game, you’re still going to play there,” 2017 Paris semi-finalist Pliskova said after moving on to the second round by beating Tessah Andrianjafitrimo 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, former runner-up at the Australian Open and world number five, has said goodbye emotionally to tennis after losing in the first round to Casper Ruud.
The 37-year-old Frenchman won 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 7-6 (7/0) for Norway’s eighth seed.
“I hope the world can soon find as much peace as I have found today. Thank you Roland Garros. Thank you, Mr. Tennis. I love you,” Tsonga said.
On the other hand, 19-year-old Dane Holger Rune made his debut in the main draw with a 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) dismissal of 14th seed Shapovalov.
“I didn’t really show up,” lamented Shapovalov, who made 53 unforced errors.
Slovakia’s Alex Molcan defeated Argentine Federico Coria 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and prepared for a second-round matchup against Djokovic. World number 38 Molcan is coached by Marian Vajda, Djokovic’s former coach.
Spanish third-seeded Paula Badosa, a quarter-finalist last year, advanced to the second round with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over French wildcard Fiona Ferro while she was the 2018 champion.
Simona Halep defeated German Nastasja Schunk 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, a lucky 18-year-old loser in the standings.