"Best impression of peak 1970's tennis": Francisco Comesana lights cigarette courtside at Miami Open and asks umpire for lighter

Francisco Comesana was that desperate for a cigarette that he sparked up courtside at the Miami Open and even more bizarrely asked the umpire for a lighter.

Comesana had been facing off against Michael Mmoh in a qualifying match when he was spotted taking a drag on a cigarette. He won the first set before retiring to his chair for a cigarette break. “Excuse me, do you have a light," he said to the umpire.

The umpire though didn't take the bait of a reply and remained unmoved. It was a good omen for Comesana though as he went on to beat Mmoh in straight sets securing a 6-3, 6-4 win.

He progressed into the second qualifying match which he also won, this time against Shintaro Mochizuki. Comesana also beat the Japanese ace 7-6, 7-5 into the main draw.

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With a cigarette in his holster, Comesana was ready to attack the main draw but he met his match in rising teenage sensation Federico Cina. Cina needed deciding sets in both to win 6-7(3), 6-7 (5).

Cina made history as the first player born in 2007 to win at an ATP 1000 tournament, with the Italian battling cramp and the finishing line. But Comesana won't be lighting anymore cigarettes this week in Miami.

“I’m very happy. It was very difficult. But I’m very happy to win. I started the match very good, played a very good tie-break. Then in the second set, I was [ahead] 5-2, then I got cramps. But it was very good to stay there every point," he said.

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