(VIDEO) Terence Atmane left astonished at umpire after receiving time violation warning on match point to confirm defeat

A bizarre end to a quarterfinal in the Mexican Open saw Miomir Kecmanovic not even have to swing a racket to win the match point, with victory being handed to him in curious circumstances after his opponent, Terence Atmane, came a foul of the time violation rules.

A spot in the semi-finals and a huge opportunity awaited both players. Ranked 84th and 63rd in the world respectively, Kecmanovic was flying high after taking down the number one seed and world number four Alexander Zverev in a huge surprise, continuing his upturn in form after reaching the Dallas Open quarterfinal.

It was also a first last-eight appearance of the year for Atmane who made a name for himself at the 2025 Cincinnati Open where he reached the semifinals before going down to Jannik Sinner in a hugely unexpected run. He was looking to repeat the fate but would not be able to, losing out 6-3, 6-3 in Acapulco.

A late flurry from the Serbian saw him come back from a 3-2 deficit to take the first set, winning four games on the spin with minimal fuss. That period saw him win eight points in a row, and 12 points in 15 which represented his dominance at that specific time.

The Frenchman would save six break pints in the first four games of the second set before eventually falling behind, but this time he got back on level terms. A third break on the spin saw Kecmanovic re-take the lead as he strode confidently towards the finishing line.

Each player has 25 seconds to take their first serve. The shot clock commences at the end of the point, giving players a small amount of time to reset and get ready for the next one. Atmane had been walking on a tight rope throughout the match, picking up a warning earlier on in the match. He subsequently told the umpire, Scottie Moore, that he was feeling unwell and needed more time to serve. He was judged to be taking too long to be retrieving his towel.

"I'm sweating like crazy," he said during the second set. "Like relax, give me five seconds, okay?” He had been sick the night before and was really feeling the consequences from this. However, he soldiered on and tried to force a comeback against Kecmanovic.

After squandering three match points, a fourth and definitive match point came around. Kecmanovic was determined to get this one done and dusted. He was ready to serve but Atmane was not. He went over to retrieve his towel once more but was left with a nasty taste in his mouth when the umpire delivered the bad news.

"He's ready," Moore stated, referring to Kecmanovic. "I'm not," Atmane replied. He continued to make the trip over to his towel before the umpire delivered the final blow, giving him another time violation warning. A second one in a match results in you losing a point, and in this case the match.

Atmane was stunned. He stood at the back of the court while Kecmanovic walked over to shake the umpire's hand, muted celebrations amid the outcome of the match. The decision was met by a chorus of boos from the Mexican fans who followed with a chant of "let's go Terence." The two competitors embraced after a tough match before Atmane slowly dawdled towards his chair.

His tournament in Mexico has come to an end in unusual circumstances but for Kecmanovic he continues on his merry way. The number five seed Flavio Cobolli has returned to form and will be a tricky customer for him to face in the semifinals, with an all-American clash the other side of the draw involving Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima.