6 days ago
Watch: Tennis player gets disqualified for taking mid-match shower
Mats Rosenkranz was disqualified from his match against Pietro Orlando Fellin at the Crete Challenger IV. (Image: X)
German tennis player Mats Rosenkranz was disqualified from the Crete Challenger IV tournament on August 13, during his match against Pietro Orlando Fellin after taking a mid-match shower.
The world number 358 had won the first set 7-5 before the incident occurred, which violated tennis anti-doping regulations.
The 26-year-old Rosenkranz took a shower during a toilet break after winning the opening set. Upon his return to the court, tournament officials informed him of his immediate disqualification from the match.
Rules prohibit players from taking showers during matches to ensure strict enforcement of anti-doping laws in tennis.
Despite Rosenkranz's attempts to explain his actions and appeal the decision, officials maintained the disqualification.
The match was awarded to Fellin by walkover, who advanced to face French player Laurent Lokoli in the next round of the tournament.
Prior to the match, Rosenkranz had secured his spot by defeating Pavlos Tsitsipas, the brother of professional tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas, in a three-set contest during the previous round.
This incident is not unprecedented in professional tennis. A similar situation occurred in 2022 when American player Nicolas Moreno De Alboran was disqualified from his match against Federico Delbonis for taking a mid-match shower.
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