WATCH: Tommy Paul Hits Umpire With Powerful Serve In Cincinnati
Tommy Paul hit the umpire during his third-round match at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters against Carlos Alcaraz.
Umpiring can be a difficult job at times, and Fergus Murphy learned it the hard way at the ATP 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. While Alcaraz and Paul battled on the court, in what was a winning effort for the Spaniard, the American managed to hit him with one of his serves.
During the warm-up, Paul set up to serve, but it didn't go as he expected. With the swing of his racket, the ball shot out like a bullet from a gun, zipping through the air at an unimaginable speed.
The trajectory was unusual, as it was veering off course. And before anyone could truly comprehend what was happening, the ball found its unintended mark - the chair umpire's face.
An echoing thud, akin to the pop of a tightened tennis racket string, pervaded the stadium. The scene that followed was one of disbelief and immediate concern. Paul's face transformed into a visage of shock and regret. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the umpire's chair.
The umpire knew that it was a genuine miss, similar to one that Iga Swiatek produced earlier this year, and therefore there was no reason for a possible disqualification, which usually takes place once the player hits someone.
"It's okay. It's okay. I just... Maybe I... It's good I didn't see it. That's okay."
The umpire showcased extraordinary professionalism and calm. Despite being struck on the sensitive area near his eye, he managed to wave off the incident, even attempting to ease Paul's evident distress.
While the incident was soon forgotten, the American certainly wasn't happy with how the match ended, as after the rainy delay, he wasn't able to overcome the top seed, who won the match in three sets.
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