Eight long minutes in the middle of the first set between Rinderknech and Medjedovic, during the first round of Shanghai’s ATP. Why? It seems absurd, but the images confirm: the Serbian sweats too much and leaves the slides to be slipped on the field, making the surface dangerous. From here, the choice of the chair judge: allow Medjedovic to go to the changing rooms to change. But Rinderknech just doesn’t stand out. The Frenchman complains about too much time lost just before his service shift and accuses the organization of “letting the opponent want what he wants”.
A dispute with the referee brings to the final scene: Rinderknech takes off a shoe and parades on the concrete of the field, claiming to leave him also about sweat and therefore to have every right to change. The result is a Warning for Code Violation. That’s all? No, not at all. The epilogue of the match arrives shortly after for the retreat of Medjedovic, meanwhile winner in the first set, due to a back injury. At the moment of the handshake, the two opponents do not appease mutual controversy: “How old are you?” “And you? No respect for you”.