There were some bizarre moments in a titanic clash between
Karen Khachanov and
Marco Trungelliti. From balls touching cables to line judges getting hugged, the match had everything. In the end, it was the number 13 seed who prevailed 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(4) to advance into the third round at
Roland Garros.
In a match that lasted almost four hours, it was very closely fought between the two competitors with a win hugely pivotal to both players in the
French Open. Trungelliti broke late as Khachanov was trying to serve out the first set, but the Russian would get it done in a tiebreak.
The events were flipped as Trungelliti failed to convert two set points on the Khachanov serve before being broken as he was trying to serve it out. He broke right back instantly after before holding to love to get back on level terms.
Khachanov sailed clear in the third after dropping just four points in the entire set. The fourth set looked to be going the same way as the 30-year-old took a 4-0 lead. However, Trungelliti rallied. He saved two match points enroute to getting the set back on serve and forcing a second tiebreak of the match. Khachanov won the final four points and secured his spot in the third round where lucky loser Jesper de Jong awaits.
Khachanov hits a one in a million shot
It was not plain sailing for Khachanov with twists and turns around every corner. On the Trungelliti serve, Khachanov was on the defensive as his opponent charged to the net. He lobbed the Argentine but what followed was a one in a million shot.
It clipped the cable languishing above the court, deeming the point lost. Khachanov was flabbergasted when the umpire stated the decision, wandering over with his arms out in disbelief. The umpire tried to make his point that it touched the cable, but the former quarter-finalist was not having any of it.
"Yeah but what cable." he furiously stated. "It's ridiculous man." The umpire responded: "I understand but it touched something so you lose the point."
The umpire's decision was final as Khachanov walked back to the baseline shaking his head. It was a hugely unlucky and unfortunate moment.
Trungelliti hugs line judge after obstruction occurred during point
As Khachanov tried to serve it out, every point was valuable for either player. That meant when one of the line judges who got in the way accidentally of Trungelliti trying to return with a forehand became a crucial mishap as the score was levelled at 30-30.
Trungelliti somewhat saw the funny side of it, strolling over and giving the
line judge a huge who repaid the fate with some pats on the back. It would not cost him as he did break back, but nevertheless it did conjure up a funny moment.