Former Australian Open champion faces furious calls to be fined and BANNED after shocking lack of sportsmanship
TENNIS fans want French star Hugo Gaston BANNED from the ATP Tour after he retired from a match just ONE POINT away from defeat.
The 22-year-old, who won the Australian Open junior doubles title alongside Clement Tabur in 2018, was taking on Argentine Marco Trungelliti in Verona Challenger on Tuesday.
He won the first set 6-3, before Trungelliti came roaring back to claim the second 6-2.
World No92 Gaston then trailed 5-2 in the decider and looked set to be beaten.
But before Trungelliti could seal the win, Gaston remarkably decided to retire.
He walked towards the net and shook the South American’s hand, before Trungelliti lifted his arms aloft in celebration.
It goes down as a walkover victory for the Argentine, despite nearly all three sets being played.
And tennis fans were disgusted by Gaston’s behaviour.
One said: “These are the actual people in need of a long suspension.”
Another added: “Time for a nice long suspension and a huge fine!”
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A third replied: “Should be banned from next tournament.”
And a fourth responded: “He’s so dedicated to taking over the ATP villain title.”
This is not the first controversial incident Gaston has been involved in this year.
In April, while facing Borna Coric at the Madrid Open, he dropped a ball onto the court while his opponent prepared to hit a shot on set point.
Despite the rules stating that the umpire should have called let, Coric’s winner was allowed and Gaston was later fined £63,000.