French Open Musetti cited for ball hitting line judge, avoids disqualification

Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti reached his first French Open semi-final after defeating Frances Tiafoe in a four-set quarter-final match. During the match, Musetti kicked a tennis ball in frustration, unintentionally striking a female line judge in the chest, an incident that risked his disqualification. Despite the severity of the act, Musetti received only a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, sparking criticism from Tiafoe, who called the decision inconsistent and 'comical.' The incident drew comparisons to Novak Djokovic's 2020 US Open default for a similar action. Musetti apologized immediately to the line judge and maintained his composure to secure the victory. He is set to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.