Sports

Terence Atmane Launches Ball At Fan In Frustration, Later Apologizes

Tennis star hits ball into crowd, hits woman in the leg.

[Screenshot/Twitter/Public - User: @eurosport]

Samuel Spencer Contributor
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A French Open tennis player apologized Tuesday after firing a ball into the crowd out of frustration, striking a fan in the leg.

While not uncommon for players to receive disqualification for such offenses, Terence Atmane was issued a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct and continued playing, according to Eurosport. The French tennis star hit a ball into the crowd after losing a point, a video obtained by the outlet shows. The ball fizzed into the crowd and appeared to hit a woman in the leg, stopping play for some time, according to the French outlet L’Equipe.

Atmane took to Instagram to express his regret Tuesday.

Atmane was allowed to continue partly because the apparently woman struck by the tennis ball told a referee he had not targeted her during questioning, L’Equipe reported. He later lost the match to Sebastian Ofner in a thrilling 5-set match Sunday, ESPN reported.

“This gesture, which I’m sure you’ve seen on the media, was not intentional, so please forgive me for my emotional outburst and, above all, I’d like to apologize personally to the lady,” he said in French on an Instagram story, according to a translation by The Tennis Letter.

“I will assume the financial consequences of my actions with the tournament. I’m writing this with tears in my eyes because I’m an extremely sensitive person and finding myself in this kind of situation affects me deeply,” he wrote, the translation continues. (RELATED: Video Shows Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Collapse In Pain After Fan Appears To Drop Metal Water Bottle On His Head)

Meanwhile, tennis legend Rafael Nadal crashed out of the French Open in his first-round match Monday against Alexander Zverev, according to ESPN.