Tennis star Alexander Donski and his doubles partner, Siddhant Banthia, have faced disqualification from the ongoing ATP Challenger event in Barletta, Italy. This comes after the Bulgarian star hit an opponent in the head with a tennis ball. Notably, the opponent player Simone Agostini was seen holding his face tightly due to pain after being struck, and later the game was awarded as a 'walkover' alongside Gianluca Cadenasso.
Notably, this horrendous incident occurred when the 26-year-old tennis player was extremely frustrated after he missed a breakpoint and later went on to smash the ball in frustration, which later hit his opponent as he attempted to jump out of the game.
After the incident, the two teams were seen meeting at the nets when the Bulgarian star was visibly seen apologising before the players spoke with the chair umpire. Thereafter, an official came into the court with a physiotherapist who had treated Agostini's injury. Notably, the chair umpire decided to default the 26-year-old star player.
Watch this incident here:
How have fans reacted to Alexander Donski's disqualification from the ATP Challenger event?
Meanwhile, Agostini and Cadenasso were leading the game with 6-2, 4-4, but this incident has allowed them to enter into the semi-final. The Italian player was given a walkover after this horrendous display in the game. Notably, the fans have hailed the umpire's sportsmanship as he disqualified Donski for his unethical and unsportsmanlike conduct. In addition, the Bulgarian star was eliminated via ITF rules.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) rulebook states, "Players shall at all times conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of opponents, spectators, and others. Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $500 for each violation. In addition, if such violation occurs during a match (including the warm-up), the player shall be penalised in accordance with the point penalty schedule."