Pierre-Hugues Herbert erupted at a crucial moment during his first-round match at the French Open against Lorenzo Sonego on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
The home favorite locked horns with Sonego after playing the qualifiers.
In the hard-fought battle, Sonego took the first set, but Herbert dug deep to end the second set in his favor. Sonego won the third, while the Frenchman won the fifth to push the match to the decider. The match, which lasted four 4 hours and 9 minutes, ended in the Italian's favor with a 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 scoreline. At one point during the fifth set, Herbert completely lost his cool over a controversial line call.
The umpire got down from his chair and saw Herbert aggressively argue with him, believing that Sonego's shot had landed outside. He pointed toward the mark with his racket, but moved forward to point toward another mark. The umpire, however, was convinced that the ball had landed in.
You had the wrong mark anyways, it was on the line. No! You're gonna see it. Look at me in the eyes! You're gonna see it. It's gonna be out… And you're gonna be really, if you don't say sorry after that one, I'll never speak to you again. You don't even imagine.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert yelledWell, the French Open is the only Grand Slam event that doesn't use electronic line-calling. Other clay-court events across the ATP and the WTA, however, use this system.
Herbert failed to qualify for this year's Australian Open main draw. He has made multiple third rounds in the Grand Slam events, except for the US Open. In his home Slam, the 35-year-old reached the third round in 2018.
Sonego is a one-time quarterfinalist in Grand Slam events. He reached the stage in last year's Australian Open, losing the match to Ben Shelton in four sets. But in this year's Melbourne event, the 31-year-old suffered a second-round exit, losing to compatriot Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets.
At the French Open, Sonego has made the fourth round twice, in 2020 and 2023. But last year, he lost a five-set battle to Shelton. The only time Sonego reached the semifinals of a big event was at the 2021 Italian Open. He has so far clinched four singles titles from six finals, with his last title being the 2024 Winston-Salem Open, which he won against Alex Michelsen.
If Lorenzo Sonego reaches the third round, he could set up a clash with two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud. But before that, Sonego will be facing Tommy Paul or Rinky Hijikata.
Ruud, after his match against Roman Safiullin, will be locking horns with Hamad Medjedovic. In the fourth round, Sonego could set up a clash with none other than three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic.
The Serb survived a scare in the first round as Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard took the first set off him, but eventually lost. Djokovic, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in this year's Australian Open final after defeating two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinal, is set to meet Valentin Royer.
Djokovic, in fact, is projected to square off against Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca in the third round. Two-time defending champion Alcaraz was forced to skip the French Open because of a wrist injury. He will also not be playing at Wimbledon, where last year, he was denied his third consecutive title by Sinner.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is chasing history in Paris. Winning the title will make him the seventh man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.
: Alexandra Eala Eyes Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek Clay Secrets Ahead of Roland Garros Debut
(7255 Articles Published)