First a shower, then disqualification: The German tennis professional Mats Rosenkranz involuntarily ensured one of the most curious game dropouts at the ATP Challenger tournament in Hersonissos/Greece.
Because the 26-year-old from Essen showered briefly during the set break due to the great heat, he was disqualified at 7: 5 from the perspective of the German and lost his round of 16 against the Italian Pietro Fellin.
The chief referee expressed the punishment against the current number 358 of the world rankings, as showering is prohibited according to the ATP rules. The rule serves to ensure the enforcement of anti-doping requirements.
“Simply showered”
“I didn’t know that I couldn’t take a shower. I just showered for ten seconds,” said Rosary on the pitch – clearly audible through the court microphones: “He said that he told me, but he didn’t tell me. I didn’t know the rule.”
The permitted behavior of the players during the set breaks is clearly stipulated in the ATP regulation. For example, toilet passages are permitted, but may be a maximum of three minutes. Specifically, it says in the rules: “Toilet or clothing change breaks may only be used during a set break and cannot be used for any other purpose.”
Our source:
- Sports Informazonsdienst SID
