ATP Chair Umpire Gives Three Point Penalties After Bizarre Emergency Toilet Break in Italy

Yahoo

15-05-2025

An unusual scene transpired at the ATP Challenger event in Turin during a tense third-round match between Italy's Luca Nardi and Argentina's Mariano Navone. A match that was going viral on social media not much for the tennis but for an unexpected and urgent trip to the bathroom.
With the deciding set locked at 5-5, Nardi, feeling an urgent need, dashed off court for an emergency toilet break just before he was due to serve.
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While ATP rules typically restrict mid-set bathroom breaks, especially in such late stages- the chair umpire allowed it under exceptional circumstances, citing the player's visible distress.
However, as the serve clock continued to tick during Nardi's extended absence, the chair umpire monitored the delay and, upon his return, penalized him with three consecutive point penalties for exceeding the allotted time.
As a result, Nardi had to start his service game at 0-40, a massive moment at such a critical juncture in the match.
Navone capitalized on the free points to break Nardi and serve for the match at 6-5. But Nardi, undeterred by the bizarre interruption and the momentum shift, dug deep. He broke back immediately, forcing a tiebreak and eventually prevailing in dramatic fashion to claim the final set 7-6(2).
With the victory, Nardi advances to the next round and will face Ugo Carabelli next. However, the Italian crowd in Turin will be chuckling about this one-of-a-kind moment for weeks to come. Nardi meanwhile, will probably remember to take bathroom breaks in between sets rather than in between games in his next match.