Australian tennis player Marc Polmans released a statement on Wednesday, one day after his actions at the Shanghai Masters qualifying tournament put him in a tricky position.
After Polmans hit a volley return into the net on match point with a chance to close out Tuesday’s matchup against Stefano Napolitano, he instantly let his anger get the best of him. The No. 140 player in the world slammed the ball out of frustration and hit chair umpire Ben Anderson in the face.
Polmans later apologized to Anderson for his actions, saying in his statement that the umpire accepted the apology.
“An update from me—the umpire, Ben, has accepted my apology for my actions—he knows it was unintentional and I shanked the ball on the frame in frustration in the heat of the moment,” Polmans wrote. “We both move on. It was a high pressure situation and I should have reacted better.”
An update from me - the umpire , Ben, has accepted my apology for my actions - he knows it was unintentional and I shanked the ball on the frame in frustration in the heat of the moment.
— marc polmans (@marcpolmans) October 4, 2023
We both move on.
It was a high pressure situation and I should have reacted better.
The 26-year-old was automatically disqualified from the tournament after hitting the chair umpire, and he is set to forfeit any money he may have received from the event.
🚨 DISQUALIFICATION 🚨
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 3, 2023
Marc Polmans missed a volley on match point at 7-6(3), 6-6 (6-5) and then accidentally hit the umpire.
Stefano Napolitano advances to the main draw in Shanghai as a result.pic.twitter.com/9izXBA1BOl
Polmans was just the fourth male tennis player to be disqualified from a tournament after hitting an official or ball person with a tennis ball. The others include World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, and former British player Tim Henman.
