Sports
In the ongoing Australian Open tournament, 21-year-old tennis player Elliot Benchetrit was left embarrassed after he was scolded by the chair-umpire.
Updated : Jan 21, 2020, 05:00 PM IST | Edited by : Karen Noronha
In the ongoing Australian Open tournament, 21-year-old tennis player Elliot Benchetrit was left embarrassed after he was scolded by the chair-umpire.
The tennis player was scolded after he signalled the ball-girl, who had approached him with a banana, to peel it for him. This did not go down well with the umpire John Blom.
The indecent took place on Day 2 at Court 11 when the Frenchman was in the middle of his match against Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.
Blom scolded the world no 229 for his behaviour, and the ball girl is soon seen handing the banana to the tennis player. In the video going viral, Benchetrit can be seen arguing with the umpire, before peeling the banana and eating it.
So this is the moment where Elliot Benchetrit asks the ballkid to peel his banana. I’m glad the umpire (John Blom) stepped in and told him off. pic.twitter.com/TK1GET68pG
— Alex Theodoridis (@AlexTheodorid1s) January 19, 2020
The young player's actions did not go down well with netizens either as they slammed Benchetrit:
Get to his next game and boo the shit out of him — Chook Pen (aka moot button) (@cheerscobberta) January 20, 2020
Imagine being a ballboy and this tennis player treat you as if you're their on court personal assistant.The next time they want the ball throw it in their face to make a point that thats your job not giving them water and towel or Peeling their banana or throwing their trash. — Arl.en.e w/oLang (@chixniMaangas) January 20, 2020
Too right. She's not a servant. She's there to do a job. He looked shocked when he was told to do it himself. Whattttt, peel it myself?! — Mezza (@Mezza1976) January 19, 2020
I love Blom and I’m glad he did that. Well done. pic.twitter.com/LlwzkCN4Qx — (@Rafalution19) January 19, 2020
What a nasty piece of work, this player is beyond rude. Well done to the umpire for spotting this prima donna and abusive behavior! #australianopen — maria garcia (@tulipsmg) January 19, 2020
As for the match, Benchetrit lost the encounter 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 and crashed out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, top seed Rafael Nadal made sure to keep eyeing the record-equalling 20th Major title at the Australian Open. As for the women, Maria Sharapova hit a career-low.