TENNIS
Alcaraz explodes at China Open umpire: “This isn’t tennis!”
The Spaniard was visibly angry at the umpire during his last match, against Perricard.
Carlos Alcaraz got off to a victorious debut against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Beijing Tournament, winning with a double 6-4, effectively handling the powerful serve of the Frenchman to secure his spot in the tournament’s round of 16.
However, the match did have its tense moments, particularly due to the 25-second serve countdown, which caused some issues for the youngster from Murcia.
The most intense moment occurred in the first set when Alcaraz was leading 5-4 with advantage and set point. Just as he was about to serve, chair umpire Raluca Andrei issued him a warning for exceeding the time limit.
The warning frustrated Alcaraz, who dropped the ball in protest before approaching the umpire, speaking in Spanish to express his disagreement with her decision. “I can’t play tennis like this... This is not tennis. What is this? A 100-meter sprint or what?” he exclaimed. Despite the brief dispute, Alcaraz kept his composure and went on to win the set 6-4, finishing the match with the same score.
It’s not the first time the Spaniard has hit the red zone during a match: after his Queen’s Club defeat to Jack Draper he was adamant that he would proposed changes to ATP chiefs. “Yes, absolutely”, he replied when asked if he felt rushed. “I mean, he told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is putting on.
“I think for the player it is something bad. I mean, I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls. I mean, I’m not saying to go to a towel and taking my time. I feel like I can’t ask for the balls. It’s crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces. I mean, I think I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can.”