Lorenzo Musetti has admitted he was ‘scared’ as he kicked a ball that struck a linesperson during his Roland Garros quarter-final, as a huge storm has built up around an incident that could have ended with the Italian being thrown out of the tournament.
Novak Djokovic was famously disqualified at the 2020 US Open after hitting a linesperson with a ball and while Musetti did not hit the official with the same force as the Serbian, there were similarities between the two incidents.
Musetti was asked about the moment after his 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win saw him progress to the last four at Roland Garros for the first time and he conceded he feared the worst.
“Yeah, I was a little bit, honestly, scared, because I really didn’t want to harm nobody, of course,” said Musetti.
“So I immediately went to the line umpire, and I of course said ‘sorry’, I apologise to everyone.
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“It was right to have a warning, but I think the umpire saw that there was no intention about that, and that’s why probably just, you know, let me continue my game.”
Tiafoe was less than impressed as his opponent was allowed to stay in the match despite the moment of frustration.
“I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened,” Tiafoe said. “I think that’s comical, but it is what it is.
“Nothing happened, so there’s nothing really to talk about,” Tiafoe added. “Obviously, he’s not consistent, so it is what it is.”
Former British No 1 Tim Henman gave his verdict on the incident to TNT Sports, as he admitted the Italian was fortunate to escape a default
“By the letter of the law, if you hit or kick a ball away in frustration and it hits a ball boy, line judge, or umpire, that can be a disqualification,” said Henman.
“When you look at that, the umpire could have interpreted that as a disqualification. However, if Musetti was disqualified for that, Musetti would feel very unlucky and aggrieved.
“When you’re kicking a ball away, you’ve either got to be a better footballer and kick it in the right direction, or you are risking something like that.”
Former world No 1 Jim Courier was also on the TNT Sports panel, as he suggested the lack of pace in the ball struck by Musetti was the difference between the indicent between the Djokovic incident nearly five years ago.
“I think actually, softness does matter. I think that’s the key element,” Courier said. “Intent does not matter, right? If you didn’t mean to do it, that is irrelevant.
“What is relevant is, did you harm either a ball person or a linesperson or a spectator? If anyone is injured, that’s when they’re going to default you, and fortunately he didn’t really even centre the kick.
“It was one of the worst kicks I’ve ever seen an Italian make actually, thankfully, but you know it hit her, she kind of flinched a little bit, but then she was fine.”
He then commented on the Djokovic comparison as he added; “When he hit that ball again, unintentionally, and it hit the lineswoman in the neck, she crumbled to the ground and she needed medical treatment.
“And with that, I think that the authorities’ hands were forced, and that was not the case today.
“That would have been a very difficult scenario for the tournament to have to explain.
“Was it within the rules? Technically, I think if you hit someone, yeah, you could default them, but I think there needs to be some judgement, and I think they chose the right path.”
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