Atmane Denied Match Point Opportunity Due to Time Violation

Terence Atmane was ready to fight til the finish during his quarterfinal with Miomir Kecmanovic on Thursday night in Acapulco.

Due to a time violation, his second of the match (one while serving, the other while returning) he was not given that opportunity. Umpire Jimmy Pinoargote handed Atmane a time violation and it effectively ended the match.

Atmane, who was struggling from illness in the heat, stood stunned for a moment, before shaking hands with Kecmanovic. Then he proceeded to make his case to no avail after the match had been called.

Kecmanovic got the win, 6-3, 6-3.

In the 1-1 game of the second set, Atmane told the umpire that he was “throwing up last night” and that he was sweating like crazy.

“Relax. Give me five seconds, ok?” said Atmane.

After the third game of the second set he saw trainers and took some pills.

The warning was given as Atmane took the balls to serve at the start of the 1-2 game in the second set.

“I’m sweating like I’ve never sweated in my life, I’m shaking,” Atmane said. “I’m cold, I’m hot, I can’t breathe, it’s a joke.”

Kecmanovic moves on to face fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli in the semis. The Italian got past Wu Yibing in Thursday’s first quarterfinal.

Frances Tiafoe, who reached his first hard court semifinal since the 2024 US Open with a win over Mattia Bellucci (6-4, 6-4), will face Brandon Nakashima in the other semifinal. Nakashima took out Valentin Vacherot from a set down, 2-6 6-2 6-3.