Hugo Gaston, an abandonment and another controversy

The Frenchman has once again caused controversy, this time by giving up when down match point in a Challenger Tour event.

Zuma / Panoramic

Simon Cambers

July 27, 2023

Hugo Gaston is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. The 22-year-old Frenchman, ranked 92nd in the world, arrived at the Verona Challenger in Italy in the best possible frame of mind, given that he had just won two consecutive titles on this circuit, at Lasi in Romania and Trieste in Italy. But unfortunately, it was under a cloud of scandal that he left Verona after retiring in the first round.

Why was this? A question of timing: Gaston decided to throw in the towel when his Argentine opponent, Marco Trungelliti, had three break points, effectively three match points, at 3-6, 6-2, 5-2. For some, the Gaston cup was full.

😡 HUGO GASTON ABANDONNE ALORS QUE SON ADVERSAIRE A 3 BALLES DE MATCH ?
⛔️ Euh là c’est encore une fois un grand NON ! pic.twitter.com/9kHkPhAGk1

— Tennis Plus (@TennisPlus__) July 26, 2023

While others tried to find a more or less rational explanation for the Frenchman’s latest outburst.

🎾 [THREAD] Bon je vois beaucoup de gens tomber sur Hugo Gaston 🇫🇷 après son abandon sur balle de match hier

Je me permets d’apporter du contexte vu que, contrairement à la plupart de ceux qui critiquent, j’ai regardé ses récents matchs, dont celui-là [1/16]

— Tom Compayrot (@Tom_Cprt) July 26, 2023

It is an episode that is bound to become more than anecdotal in view not only of the reactions it provokes on a circuit that had barely had time to digest the previous controversy surrounding Gaston, but also of the fact that the ATP could consider it a repeat offence that needs to be punished.

It now remains to be seen whether the ATP will again decide to penalise him, and how heavily.