Jakub Mensik was told he was “lucky to get away with it” after throwing his racket into the crowd in frustration. The Czech star failed to convert a break point in his match against Roberto Bautista Agut at Queen’s and hurled his racket, which slipped out of his hands and went flying into the stands on the Andy Murray Arena.
The No. 8 seed at this week’s tournament received a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct but commentators agreed that he would have immediately been disqualified and sent packing had he hit someone.
Mensik took the first set 6-3 over tour veteran and former No. 9 Bautista Agut but found himself in a spot of bother early in the second set when he went an early break down.
Trailing 1-3, the Miami Open champion had break points to get back on serve but he blew his chances and tossed his racket, which launched into the first few rows of seats in the arena.
Mensik looked at his hand in confusion, with the racket seemingly slipping out of his hand when he went to throw it at a safer distance. But commentators immediately questioned whether he should be defaulted.
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