Carlos Alcaraz argued after being given a time violation. (Image: Eurosport)
admitted he was “mad” about the time violation which sparked his explosive row with the match umpire in his first-round match at the China Open. The Spaniard got his tournament underway in Beijing with a 6-4 6-4 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, but the match was overshadowed by an incident as he served for the first set.
The No.2 seed had broken his opponent in the opening game, but at 5-4 down Mpetshi Perricard rallied to earn three break points at 0-40.
Alcaraz responded by saving all three to force deuce and then reached set point, but as he prepared to serve he was called up by the umpire for his second time fault of the match.
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Clearly raging, Alcaraz then approached the umpire and became embroiled in a heated debate. He appeared to say: “I’m always very quick, I never get warnings. You gave me two in one set and it’s impossible to play tennis like this.”
The 21-year-old lost his first serve as a result, but kept his composure to then wrap up the set. He also broke decisively in the first game of the second set and despite a battling display, his French opponent was unable to strike back.
But post-match talk was dominated by the Alcaraz row. The ATP 500 event in Beijing is using the automatic shot clock that was utilised during the Queen’s Club Championship this summer, and the reining and champion criticised the procedure.
Alcaraz cut a frustrated figure despite winning 6-4 6-4. (Image: Getty)
He said: “Obviously, I was a little bit mad about the time rule because I feel like I have no time. I have to run between points. I have no time to have a break, to rest or to breathe. If I finish the point at the net, I have no time to go to my towel or do a routine.”
The new regulation was trialled at Queen’s, with the automated clock starting three seconds after a point was over. Players were then given a further 25 seconds to complete their first serve in an apparent bid to speed up play for to speed up play for spectators.
And this isn’t the first time Alcaraz has spoken out against the strict shot clock. After , he explained the timing curfew had interfered with his pre-serve routine.
“I think for the player it is something bad,” he said. “I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls. I mean, I’m not saying to go to a towel and take my time. I feel like I can’t ask for the balls. It’s crazy.”
Regardless, he’ll play in the last-16 in China on Sunday when he faces Tallon Griekspoor. Alcaraz currently leads the head to head record between the pair 3-0, most recently beating him at the 2024 Paris Olympics.