French Open 2025: Frances Tiafoe fumes after Lorenzo Musetti unpunished for kicking ball at line judge, Italian admits feeling 'scared'
Updated 03/06/2025 at 21:00 GMT+1
Frances Tiafoe blasted the decision to not penalise Lorenzo Musetti for kicking a ball at a line judge as "comical" after he was beaten in the French Open quarter-finals. Musetti received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct during the second set when he kicked a ball with his left foot, striking the torso of a line judge, after initially failing to catch it when bounced to him by a ball-boy.
'It's comical' - Tiafoe has his say on controversial moment Musetti kicked ball at line-judge
Video credit: TNT Sports
The decision not to punish Lorenzo Musetti after he kicked a ball at a line judge during his French Open quarter-final victory was "comical", his opponent Frances Tiafoe said.
Musetti, who became the first male semi-finalist of the 2025 French Open with a 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2 victory over Tiafoe, was given a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct when, in the second set at 5-3 down, he struck an unassuming line judge with a left-footed half-volley of the ball.
The incident appeared to be a genuine accident with the Italian soon offering his apologies to the judge.
But when prompted in his post-match news conference about whether a more severe sanction could have been enforced, Tiafoe seemed perplexed at the lack of decisive action against his opponent.
"I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened," Tiafoe said, shaking his head. "I think that’s comical, but it is what it is."
The American said the lack of action against Musetti showed a lack of consistency from chair umpire Timo Janzen, with whom he clashed over several decisions during the match.
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Watch shocking moment Musetti kicks ball at line-judge
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Nothing happened, so there’s nothing really to talk about," Tiafoe added. "Obviously, he’s not consistent, so it is what it is."
Meanwhile, Musetti admitted he was feeling "scared" about the consequences of kicking the ball.
In a press conference, he stated: "Honestly it was really unlucky coincidence. Yeah, I was a little bit, honestly, scared, because I really didn't want to harm nobody, of course.
"So I immediately went to the line umpire, and I of course said sorry, I apologise to everyone.
"It was right to have a warning, but I think the umpire saw that there was no intention about that, and that's why probably just, you know, let me continue my game."
TNT Sports tennis expert Tim Henman said after the match that Musetti's kick could have caused disqualification, but said the Italian would feel "unlucky" to receive such punishment.
Fellow studio panellist Boris Becker commended umpire Janzen for an "excellent job" in not forfeiting Musetti.
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Musetti will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Tommy Paul in the semi-finals.
Stream the 2025 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+
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