'Is this a joke?!' - Roberto Bautista Agut calls for supervisor after just 10 mins over violation at Australian Open

ByDan Quarrell

Published 23/01/2023 at 09:21 GMT

Just 10 minutes into Roberto Bautista Agut's fourth-round clash with Tommy Paul on Margaret Court Arena, the 24th seed had already called out the match supervisor over him receiving a time violation during the opening game at the Australian Open. The 34-year-old was deemed to have taken too long between points as he faced a fourth break point on his serve against the American.

Roberto Bautista Agut called for an Australian Open supervisor to come out after just 10 minutes of his fourth-round match with Tommy Paul over a time violation dispute.

Bautista Agut, who defeated Britain's Andy Murray in the previous round, was serving at a crucial early point in the encounter with Paul having a fourth break point in the opening game alone.

Taking his time to prepare to serve with Paul waiting, the Spaniard simply took too long and the umpire eventually announced: "Time violation warning, Bautista Agut."

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Bautista Agut responded: "Is this a joke or what?!

"The match before I was playing one game before between the points… the first game you give a code violation?"

It was then clarified by the umpire: "No, it is a time violation … No, no they are not going to come."

Eventually, as Bautista Agut stood by his chair, the supervisor did actually end up walking on court to speak to him.

"The match before I was playing like that…" Bautista Agut told the supervisor.

"No, no you cannot be the referee and judge one player differently to the other one, you cannot, you cannot, you cannot, this is not good what she did."

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The supervisor simply responded: "Well, this is what the clocks are here to help with."

Eventually, play continued, and Paul ran away with the opening set, taking it 6-2 with Bautista Agut unable to settle early on in the match.

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