Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz was in disbelief during his first match at the Beijing Open after not agreeing with the quick serve clock restarts.
The four-time major winner defeated emerging talent Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 32, but a couple of bizarre moments in the opening set made headlines.
When serving for the first set, Alcaraz received a second time violation and lost his first serve on set point.
“This is not tennis,” he explained to the chair umpire.
“I’m always very quick, I never get warnings. You gave me two in one set. It’s impossible to play tennis like this.”
From 0-40 down, the 21-year-old saved all three break points and closed out the opening set without producing a successful first serve.
Beijing conducts an automatic shot clock reminiscent of the Queens Club Championships - another tournament where Alcaraz struggled with the trial.
“He (umpire Mohamed Lahyani) told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is [turned] on,” Alcaraz said after his loss against Jack Draper at Queens earlier this year.
“I think for the players it's something bad. I finish the point at the net and I had no time to ask for balls. I'm not saying to go to a towel and take my time. I feel like I can't ask for the balls.
“It's crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces. I've never seen something like that in tennis.”
Alcaraz, a semi-finalist in Beijing last year, will meet Tallon Griekspoor in the next round.
The Dutchman caused one of the biggest upsets in Grand Slam history when he eliminated the world No.2 in straight sets in the second round of the US Open last month.
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