Tennis Player Loses Match on Point Penalty for Slow Play as Returner

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A Mexican Open quarterfinal match ended in controversial circumstances as French tennis player Terence Atmane was given a point penalty by umpire Scotty Moore for not being ready to receive his opponent's serve in a timely manner. Atmane, ranked No. 63 in the world, was trailing Serbia's Miomir Kecmanović, the world No. 84, by a set and a break when the incident occurred. Kecmanović was serving for the match when Atmane took a moment to wipe sweat off his hand, leading to the point penalty that decided the outcome.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing tension in professional tennis between strictly enforcing the sport's time rules to maintain pace of play, and allowing players some leeway to manage their physical and mental states during high-pressure moments. This case also raises questions about how umpires should balance the letter of the law with the spirit of the game.

The details

According to ATP rules, players are given 25 seconds between points, with the chair umpire starting a stopwatch when the ball goes out of play. Typically it's the server who is given a time violation, but the rules also state a player can be penalized for 'Not playing to the reasonable pace of the server.' In this case, umpire Scotty Moore determined that Atmane was taking too long to get ready to receive Kecmanović's serve, leading to the crucial point penalty.

• Atmane was trailing 6-3, 5-3 when the incident occurred.
• Kecmanović was serving for the match when Atmane was penalized.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The tournament and the ATP have been contacted for comment on the incident.