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French player apologizes for hitting spectator with a ball at Roland Garros

Terence Atmane wasn’t disqualified but received only a warning and "a significant fine" after angrily striking a ball and accidentally hitting a female spectator in the leg—a decision that has sparked debate on social media.

ByAssociated Press

Published May 28, 2024

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PARIS (AP) — French tennis player Terence Atmane apologized on Tuesday for hitting a spectator with a ball at the Roland Garros.

Atmane angrily struck a ball and accidentally hit the female spectator in the leg on Sunday. He wasn’t disqualified but received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Atmane lost the first-round match to Sebastian Ofner in five sets.

Read more: A French player at Roland Garros gets only a warning when his ball strikes a fan

“This gesture was not intentional. Please forgive me for my emotional outburst,” he said on Tuesday on Instagram. He explained that a broken string led to the ball flying into the stands and admitted to being too shocked to react immediately.

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Atmane emphasized his desire to apologize personally to the spectator.

Atmane was not disqualified because the spectator said she was fine, tournament referee Remy Azemar told French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

He added Atmane will get a “significant fine.”

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Not disqualifying Atmane sparked debate at Roland Garros.

Players were disqualified for similar actions in the past. At last year’s event, Miyu Kato and her doubles partner were forced to forfeit a match when Kato accidentally hit a ball girl in the neck with a ball.