(Video) Acapulco Match Ends in Bizarre Fashion After Terence Atmane Receives Time Violation on Match Point

Miomir Kecmanovic has improved his head-to-head record over Terence Atmane to 1-0.

(Video) Acapulco Match Ends in Bizarre Fashion After Terence Atmane Receives Time Violation on Match Point

Terence Atmane received time violation during his match against Miomir Kecmanovic (Image via X/Jose Morgado, We Are Tennis)

In Short
  • The Mexican Open quarterfinal match between Terence Atmane and Miomir Kecmanovic ended controversially due to a time violation on match point.
  • Atmane, who struggled with illness, received a point penalty for not being ready to receive serve, resulting in Kecmanovic's victory.
  • Kecmanovic advances to face Flavio Cobolli in the semifinals, aiming for his third career singles title.

The quarterfinal match at the Mexican Open between Terence Atmane and Miomir Kecmanovic ended in a bizarre fashion. Kecmanovic was on match point, but the points he won were not by hitting an ace, a winner during a rally, or from an unforced error from his opponent.

Atmane struggled throughout the match due to an illness and took a medical timeout in the second set. He had already received a warning from the umpire for taking too much time between points. He even told the umpire during the second set that he was throwing up all night.

I’m sweating like crazy. Like, relax, give me five seconds, okay.

Terence Atmane told the umpire

So on match point, when Kecmanovic was preparing to serve, Atmane wasn’t ready to receive it and instead was toweling himself. But because the 25-second shot clock ended, he received a time violation and hence was docked a point, which saw the Serb clinch a 6-3, 6-3 win. Atmane simply looked stunned at what just happened, while some fans started to boo.

Watch the video here:

Kecmanovic now holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Atmane. He will next be clashing with Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who knocked out Wu Yibing.

Kecmanovic is chasing his career’s third singles title. He has so far played five finals, winning at the 2020 Austrian Open Kitzbuhel and the 2025 Delray Beach Open by defeating Yannick Hanfmann and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, respectively.

Miomir Kecmanovic knocked out Alexander Zverev in the second round

Alexander Zverev played his second tournament of the season in Acapulco, and his campaign ended without him making the final. The Mexican Open is the first tournament he played since his five-set defeat to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Australian Open, which ended in five hours and 27 minutes, becoming the longest semifinal in the history of the tournament.

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (Image via X/Swish Tennis)

Sascha first knocked out Corentin Moutet in the first round, but Miomir Kecmanovic knocked him out 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(4) in the second round, clinching his career’s first win over a top 5 player after 11 consecutive defeats. The win helped him tie his head-to-head record over the three-time Grand Slam finalist to 2-2.

It feels amazing, especially because it’s been a rough couple of years. So I’m happy that some things are going my way finally.

Miomir Kecmanovic said after the match

Zverev has yet to win a tournament since his win over Ben Shelton in the 2025 Munich Open final. Last year in Acapulco, Zverev lost to Learner Tien in the second round.

I guess I was more aggressive when it mattered. I served a lot better than my usual standards, so I’m happy that things went well today. Obviously, he’s the big favorite, so I didn’t have any pressure there, but you still have to play well when it matters, close out the match, and thankfully it went my way.

Miomir Kecmanovic added

Zverev holds a 1-1 win-loss record in Mexican Open finals, losing the title to Nick Kyrgios in 2019 and winning it in 2021 against Stefanos Tsitsipas. He will next be seen in action at the Indian Wells Masters, the main draw of which is set to start on March 4.

Zverev has yet to reach the semifinals of the first Masters 1000 of the season, reaching the quarterfinal stage twice, in 2021 and 2024. The 28-year-old, in fact, has yet to win a Sunshine Doubles title, reaching the final of the Miami Open just once, in 2018, losing the match to John Isner. Last year in Miami, he lost in the fourth round.

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