Monte-Carlo Masters umpire stops player from celebrating win and restarts match | Tennis | Sport

An umpire stepped in when Lorenzo Sonego prematurely thought he won his match at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The lucky loser started celebrating a victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime, approaching the net to shake hands with his opponent. But the chair official joined him instead, resuming the match at deuce after informing Sonego that he lost the point.

After coming into the draw as a lucky loser, Sonego found himself on the cusp of the last 16 when he served for the match against Auger-Aliassime. But it became a dogfight as multiple match points and break points came and went for both men.

The world No. 57 finally thought that he got the job done on his fifth match point when one of the Canadian’s returns was sent long. The pro-Italian crowd roared as Sonego jumped in the air and pumped his fists. But he was left confused when Auger-Aliassime failed to join him for a handshake at the net.

Instead, chair umpire Arnaud Gabas went to check the ball mark for Sonego’s serve and approached the 28-year-old to explain that he lost the point. « Oh my word. Premature celebrations. How happy was he? » Gigi Salmon said on Sky Sports.

As Sonego retreated to the baseline to continue serving, she added: « Not quite yet, got to reset. He wondered why he wasn’t being joined by the Canadian at the net. Premature celebrations, fifth match point come and gone, back to deuce. Now has to block out those celebratory thoughts. »

Sonego appeared to be in trouble when Auger-Aliassime responded by creating another break point. But the lucky loser managed to stay in it and kept his focus after the early celebrations. 

He finally converted his sixth match point as the match hit the two-hour mark, coming through 6-4 7-5.

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