Carlos Alcaraz clashed with umpire Raluca Andrei during what was otherwise a straightforward opening round win at the China Open.
Playing for the first time since his Laver Cup heroics in Berlin, Alcaraz produced an efficient performance to kickstart his campaign in Beijing, defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4.
However, the match was not without controversy, with the world No 3 unhappy with umpire Andrei after receiving two time violations in the opening set.
The second of the two violations – awarded after Alcaraz failed to serve in the allotted 25 seconds shown on the shot clock – saw the Spaniard lose his first serve.
That came on set point when the 21-year-old was trying to close out the opener, having won four straight points from 0-40 down at 5-4.
Alcaraz was unhappy with the call and debated with Andrei in the immediate aftermath of the call, and then discussed the matter further at the end of the set – after converting his set point.
“I’m always very quick, I never get warnings,” Alcaraz appeared to say.
“You gave me two in a set. It’s impossible to play tennis like this.”
The incident ultimately did not have too much impact on the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion in this match, but it is not the first time he has been critical of the time allowed in between points.
Following his loss to Jack Draper at the Queen’s Club back in June, he echoed similar sentiments.
“I think for the player is something bad. I mean, I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls,” he said at the time.
“I mean, I’m not saying to go to a towel and taking my time. I feel like I can’t ask for the balls. It’s crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces.
“I think I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can.
“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine. Of course it’s something bad for the players, I think.”
Alcaraz next faces Tallon Griekspoor in Beijing, with the Spaniard projected to face key rival and world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the final.
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