Arthur Gea, a young French player who received a wildcard entry, faced 13th seed Karen Khachanov in the opening round. With Khachanov leading 4-1 in the first set, Gea unexpectedly requested to leave the court for the restroom.

The umpire denied the request, stating that the timing was inappropriate and instructing Gea to continue playing. Gea's immediate reaction stunned the entire Suzanne Lenglen court.

"I really can't hold it anymore", Gea angrily stated. "I need to go. I feel like I'm about to defecate right here. This is not a joke".

The 20-year-old player then continued to exclaim loudly: "I can't take it anymore, I just can't. Explain this situation. I'm about to poop right on this damn court. I'm sick. I have diarrhea".

Gea returns the ball during his match against Khachanov, on Suzanne Lenglen court, Roland Garros tennis complex, Paris, France on 24/5. Photo: AP

Following the heated exchange, Gea ran off the court, returning approximately four minutes later. Across the net, Khachanov visibly expressed his displeasure, believing the break occurred at a sensitive point in the match.

Bathroom breaks in tennis are a frequent topic of debate. Rules dictate that players must choose an appropriate time to avoid affecting their opponents, as some players have previously used such breaks as a tactic to disrupt the match rhythm.

In the incident on 24/5, Gea appeared to be experiencing a genuine health issue. Former British number one player Tim Henman acknowledged Khachanov's frustration but also conceded that Gea's physical condition was unstable.

"That's certainly not a situation the French player wanted to happen", Henman commented on TNT Sports. "But Khachanov was about to serve the next game, so I understand why he was upset about this break".

Henman observed that Khachanov was somewhat psychologically affected after the match interruption. The Russian player lost three consecutive points at the start of the next game, falling behind 0-40, before regaining control of the match.

After the first set incident, Gea visibly weakened, ultimately suffering a 3-6, 6-7, 0-6 defeat. The third set was one-sided, heavily favoring Khachanov as Gea lacked stamina.

Gea currently ranks 135th in the world. Born in 2005, he is considered a promising talent in French tennis. However, his match against Khachanov brought him unexpected notoriety. Khachanov, after defeating Gea, will face veteran Marco Trungelliti in the second round.

Vy Anh