Sinner questioned about French Open behaviour as umpire in spotlight | Tennis | Sport

Jannik Sinner’s behaviour at the French Open with umpire Aurelie Tourte has been criticised after offering the World Number One a timeout while facing three break points. The Italian was 5-1 up when he went to see the physio in the third set against Juan Manuel Cerundolo at Roland Garros.

Sinner was accused of using the timeout to gain an advantage, with British tennis star Tim Henman accusing the Italian of wanting to return to an air-conditioned room, avoiding the French heat. Sinner said he felt dizzy and was given permission to walk off the court.

Speaking on TNT Sports’ Roland-Garros coverage, Nick Mullins asked his co-commentator: “What did you make of Aurelie Tourte got down to talk to Sinner? Saying it would be a time violation then code and then a point, or you can get the physio: what do you want?

Miles Maclagan replied: “I don’t like it at all. That’s where I go back to I think you get a medical time out but it maybe costs you a point every 30 seconds.

“I think Cerundolo, in this instance or whatever state it is, ‘I’ve worked hard to get in this physical condition, now you’re struggling and you want a break? How about you give me a break from the fact that you’re 6ft 8ins and you don’t serve full pace? That’s your asset and this is mine, you’re taking mine away.’

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“So yeah, we’ve seen with Djokovic the shot clock being stopped or paused, it is a pet peeve of mine: I think it’s slowed the game down. I think it’s not really enforced. We know the numbers of players frequently taking more than their time but never being penalised for it.”

Tim Henman said: “He is delaying play, I don’t see why he should get the benefits of going into an air conditioned room.”

On the Roland-Garros 360 channel, Anne Keothavong said: “At 5-4 0-40, the umpire came down and asked Yannick, what he wanted. So she said, I can give you a warning. I can give you a point deduction and point penalty, or you can call the physio, and you can be evaluated.

“But I don’t understand why she even gave him the options. I mean, he’s got to be the one to, she’s got to give him a point penalty first. Um, he’s got to be the one who goes up to her and asks for the physio. She shouldn’t have been giving him those options.

“Of course, he asked for the physio. He is there that 0-40 in the game, goes off court for 10 minutes and he’s just being evaluated. He’s in a room with AC being evaluated, not even being treated. And the physio can take as long as they want to evaluate a player.

“Just to clarify, what you want, I can give you a time violation, then a code, code violation. Then it’s a point penalty. And she gave him all those options, or you can call the physio. Yeah. Which is just, yeah, mind boggling.”

Henman added: “And also, they can, if you are being evaluated for an injury where you need a bit of privicy, if you’ve got a groin strain, you’ve got to remove articles of clothing, then you obviously go off the court, but in that scenario, when he’s been evaluated, I think to get 10 minutes in an air conditioned room. Um, doesn’t seem quite right.

“He is delaying play, and therefore, you’re going to get a warning, and if you’ve already had a warning for that, it can be loss of first serve, or it’s going to be a penalty point. So the umpire shouldn’t be getting off her chair. It’s not her responsibility, that’s the player’s responsibility. I don’t see why he should get the benefit of going into an air conditioned room.”

Every match of Roland-Garros is live across TNT Sports and HBO Max.