Andy Roddick calls for tennis to change 'stupid' rule after Lorenzo Musetti avoids disqualification at the French Open

Lorenzo Musetti has been at the centre of a storm after reaching his first French Open semi-final.

Musetti has enjoyed a successful clay court season, now reaching at least the semi-finals in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and the French Open after beating Frances Tiafoe.

However, the main talking point of the match was controversy, with some calling for Musetti to be disqualified after kicking a ball that hit a line judge.

This discussion has divided opinion, with former world number one Andy Roddick now calling for tennis to change the rules for future situations like this.

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Andy Roddick calls for tennis to change ‘stupid’ rule after Lorenzo Musetti avoids disqualification

It is a rare sight in tennis to see a player disqualified, but Musetti appeared to be close to joining this unwanted list after he kicked the ball in frustration that inadvertently hit the line judge.

Despite receiving a warning for this, Musetti was able to continue playing and beat Tiafoe, who himself has since labelled the situation ‘comical’.

When speaking about this situation on his podcast, Roddick has now given his verdict and compared it to when Novak Djokovic was disqualified at the US Open.

Roddick also believes that tennis should change the rules to make this sort of situation more objective for chair umpires in the future.

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“We can’t equate Frances telling the truth to Frances saying he was the better player on the day and deserves to be on the semis on merit,” began Roddick. “But, yeah, on a technicality sure I can see it.

“Everyone is going to argue about this but we are arguing about an agreement. Do we want consistency with this rule? Do we want it to be black and white? Or do we want the grey area that leads to conversation? Which is basically if you do something dumb and it hurts or affects or hits an umpire you’re gone. That’s it.

“Then as a players if you go over the line it’s on you. The responsibility should not lie with the umpire. I should be ‘oh I messed up’. Novak slapping a ball and hitting someone in the throat is obviously way more dramatic than hitting a ball or I have said that someone fires the ball into the stands and it could hit someone, so don’t we value the fans as much as the umpire?

“The conversation never ends and it’s always kind of a stupid one. If you do something and it’s out of anger and it hits someone that it’s not supposed to, either never default anyone or default everyone. This middle ground is a dumb thing, it’s useless.

“I don’t think Frances is being catty by saying I lost but by the letter of the law I could easily have won and would I like the extra money and a chance to play in a Grand Slam semi-final? I don’t know who would criticise him for that, that’s equally dumb. It should be consistent.”

Jon Wertheim disagrees with Andy Roddick’s verdict on Lorenzo Musetti situation

Despite being Roddick’s co-host, tennis journalist Jon Wertheim admitted that he disagreed with the former US Open champion.

Instead, Wertheim believes that tennis needs to keep some level of subjectivity for the context of the sporting situation.

“I am going to disagree with you,” responded Wertheim. “I think that officials in sports and authorities in general – we are better off in a world where there is some level of objectivity and sensitivity to the situation.

“If I am 9-1 in a baseball game and an 02 pitch brushes the strike zone I might call it differently to if it’s 2-2. If it’s the last play of the Superbowl I may overlook the pass interference. I think that’s healthy in a way.

“I think if you say Lorenzo Musetti, I know who he is and what he is about. I can see a kick but I think we need a bit of subjectivity which we do in other realms. I don’t mind that the letter of the law wasn’t followed and there was some context given to this.”

While this debate may continue, Musetti will now move on to play for a chance to reach the French Open final.

Musetti will play Carlos Alcaraz in his semi-final, in a rematch of the Monte Carlo Masters final that the latter won.

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