Tiafoe Baffled as Musetti Escapes French Open Default for Ball Incident

Frances Tiafoe openly expressed his bewilderment after Lorenzo Musetti avoided a default at the French Open despite accidentally kicking a ball that hit a line judge. Tiafoe described the decision as “comical,” pointing to an apparent inconsistency in how similar incidents have been handled in professional tennis.
Musetti, who secured a hard-fought win over Tiafoe to reach the semi-finals, admitted to being “scared” following the unintended contact. He received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct but was ultimately allowed to continue the match, with the umpire seemingly acknowledging the lack of malicious intent.
The incident overshadowed, in part, Musetti’s remarkable clay-court season, which has seen him reach multiple semi-finals and a Masters 1000 final, propelling him significantly up the ATP rankings. He now faces a formidable challenge against Carlos Alcaraz, who delivered a commanding performance in his quarter-final match, reaffirming his status as a top contender.