Open South of France – Montpellier
Ugo Humbert, world number 36, seed 5 against Adrian Mannarino, world number 68, over, 3 sets, set 1: 7 – 6 tiebreak 7 – 4,, set 2: 3 – 6, set 3: 6 – 7 tiebreak 4 – 7, total score 1, 2, winner Adrian Mannarino
The tennis match between the French Ugo Humbert and Adrian Mannarino has had a bizarre ending. When Humbert took the lead in the decisive tiebreak, he looked at his phone. After that moment, Mannarino scored 4 points in a row and won the match.
He was within 3 points of the next round, but Ugo Humbert was unable to win his match in the second round of the tournament in Montpellier.
Humbert already got 3 match points against his compatriot Adrian Mannarino, but he could not capitalize on them. When he broke through Mannarino’s serve twice in the decisive tiebreak to take a 4-3 lead, the hardest part seemed to be behind him.
But at that moment Humbert did something strange. Before preparing to serve, he walked to his bench and grabbed his phone.
After that short delay, Humbert lost the next 4 points, which meant he also lost the match.
On social media people immediately assumed the worst and suspected match fixing, although that is of course without any evidence.
Normally, tennis players are prohibited from using electronic devices, such as telephones, during matches. Unless expressly permitted by the Supervisor.
