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Adrian Mannarino headbutts racquet butt cap and draws blood, recalling Mikhail Youzhny

The Frenchman would require a medical timeout to address the wound during his United Cup encounter with Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.

Published Jan 03, 2024

Just two days into the new year and we have a frontrunner for the Strangest Self-Imposed Injury award.

Or, if Caroline Garcia was voting, the Funniest Self-Imposed Injury award.

The winner is Adrian Mannarino, the Frenchman with the most nondescript apparel on tour, and—now—a fresh cut on his forehead (watch video above):

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Adrian Mannarino's racquet got the job done, in more ways than one.

Adrian Mannarino's racquet got the job done, in more ways than one.

© AFP or licensors

The 35-year-old decided to do this—hit himself with the butt cup of his Babolat frame—after falling behind 0-30 in his opening service game of the second set against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in United Cup.

"It's literally one of the first unforced errors he's made, he's in complete control, and now this happens," an incredulous Robbie Koenig said from the commentary booth.

French team captain Édouard Roger-Vasselin couldn't help but crack a smile while tending to his compatriot's wound, along with Garcia, who was watching in the locker room.

Mannarino hit himself with the racquet butt and is now bleeding (MTO in progress).

Garcia : 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/sH4PLfmMbg
— Jess 🍵 (@jessica4stein) January 3, 2024

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"You can't injure yourself, can you?" Keonig's partner asked, in regards to whether Mannarino should have been permitted a medical timeout (he was).

It was...a choice, and it brought back memories of Mikhail Youzhny's self-inflicted laceration 16 years ago, in Miami. Like Jimmy Connors' win over Aaron Krickstein, the Youzhny incident is a clip tennis fans are guaranteed to run into, simply because of how bizzare it was.

In case you've never seen it...enjoy:

By the way, Mannarino won the match, 6-4, 6-4, putting France closer to the United Cup quarterfinals. He's also expected to crack the Top 20 for the first time next week.

So maybe there's something to it.

Maybe not.