Stefanos Tsitsipas argues with umpire during French Open Round 2 match: Just push the benches back

Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas had a brief argument with the chair umpire during his French Open Round 2 match against Pedro Martinez on Wednesday. The fifth seed was irked after he was asked to move his kit bag on the court by the umpire.

It was Pedro Martinez who pointed out to the umpire that his bag was placed too close to the court. Tsitsipas was then asked to move his bag further away from the tramlines which put off the 22-year-old.

“I always have it there! Just push the benches back. Why am I supposed to do that?” Tsitsipas told the umpire.

Tsitsipas strolled past Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4 6-3 in a scrappy contest to reach the third round of the French Open.

Tsitsipas, who reached the semi-finals in 2020, is considered one of the main contenders to challenge Rafa Nadal for the title at Roland Garros after the 22-year-old’s triumph at the Monte-Carlo Masters and in Lyon in the lead-up to the claycourt Grand Slam.

“I’ve had good weeks this year, I’ve had some good results, but, of course, I feel like there’s always better,” Tsitsipas, who improved his tour-leading wins tally in the season to 34, said in his on-court interview.

“I don’t see my performance so far as super excellent and outstanding but I’ve been consistent.”

The Greek broke his opponent’s serve eight times and hit his 45th winner on matchpoint to set up a third-round meeting with American John Isner, who defeated Serbian Filip Krajinovic 7-6(6) 6-1 7-6(5).

“I felt like I had better days at the French Open, so I would love to see myself play a little bit better next time,” Tsitsipas told reporters.