'It's the rule!' - Wimbledon player throws racket after argument with umpire

Metro

05-07-2025

Luciano Darderi threw his racket in disgust after arguing with an umpire over a decision during his Wimbledon defeat to Jordan Thompson.
Australia's Thompson was serving for the first set against Italy's Darderi when, at 40-15 up, his hat fell off mid-serve in windy conditions on Court 18.
The 31-year-old managed to catch his cap and continued the point, eventually hitting a volley past Darderi to clinch the game and first set.
But Darderi immediately complained to the chair umpire that he should have been awarded the point or, at worst, the point should be replayed.
'It's the rule,' Darderi yelled at Wimbledon umpire Mohamed Lahyani. 'You are not allowed to play with the cap like this. You are not.'
As Lahyani explained his decision, an animated Darderi responded: 'What?!'
The world number 59 then slammed his racket down onto his chair, leading to a chorus of boos from the spectators on Court 18.
Darderi also challenged Thompson about the decision, not that the Australian was ever going to refuse the point which put him in the driving seat in the third-round clash.
Lahyani appeared to make a call to double-check he made the right decision as Darderi continued to argue his case.
BBC commentator and former Wimbledon doubles champion Todd Woodbridge said: 'What happened in this point is Jordan Thompson hit the serve and his hat came off with it.
'But in the same motion he grabs it in his left hand. He holds it and then plays the whole point, which is multiple shots.
'Now, the umpire could have said, 'replay the point – hindrance'. You get one opportunity for that, if your hat falls off your head or if your ball falls out your pocket, they will replay it once.
'But if it happens a second time it is immediately the point to the opponent. The other thing that could have happened is Darderi saying, 'hold on', and putting his hand up.
'The umpire then would have ordered a replay of the point. He has the right to argue, but he is going to lose because he did not say anything in the first place.
'It is like going back and challenging a call, when the system was in place, you must challenge in that moment.'
Darderi's mood would not have got any better as he went on to lose 4-6 4-6 6-3 3-6, missing out on a place in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Speaking out on the incident, Thompson – who plays Taylor Fritz next – said: 'I mean, my hat's fallen off before, and I know what the rules are.
'It didn't hinder him; it hindered me. So I don't know what he was complaining about.
'It's not like it was 5-all in the fifth, deuce. Every point's big, but it is what it is.
'He was having a bit of a whinge, but I get where he's coming from, but, you know, rules are rules, so just gotta play by them. More Trending
'My hat's fallen off before and most of the calls have honestly gone against me and that one, it puts him off.
'I guess if you had to stop the point, I would have happily replayed it, but, I guess it, it doesn't count unless it, hits the deck, so play on.'
On his promising run at the All England Club, Thompson – ranked No. 44 in the world – added: 'If someone told me that I was gonna be in the fourth round with the preparation I've had, I'd say show me the dotted line.
'I think grass is my best surface and it hasn't really shown at Wimbledon so to finally, you know, live up to somewhat expectations is, extremely pleasing.'
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