Mikael Ymer Disqualified for Chair Attack

Mikael Ymer attacked the chair—and was bounced out of Lyon as a result.

Incensed that the chair umpire declined to check a ball mark on a shot he believed landed wide, Ymer lost his serve against Frenchman Arthur Fils then completely lost his cool in Lyon today.

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Go to about the 90-second mark of the video below to see Ymer smash his Wilson racquet off the base of the chair umpire’s chair eventually decapitating his stick in the process.

That raging assault prompted Ymer’s disqualification and will likely result in a hefty fine as well.

What a dramatic ending to a fascinating contest…

Ymer is disqualified vs Fils in Lyon 🇫🇷#OpenParc @OpenParcARA pic.twitter.com/N7E2a1pS6E

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 24, 2023

Ymer argued the chair umpire not only refused to inspect the ball mark, he declined to show Ymer the mark where he said the ball hit the line. Citing Frenchman Richard Gasquet was able to request a mark inspection after playing a shot in his prior match, Ymer argued the chair umpire should at least come onto court to review the mark.

After the eruption, American Taylor Fritz said while he’s not defending Ymer’s outburst, officials too often mistake a bad bounce for a ball off the line.

Not justifying the reaction at all but the amount of people that think a bad bounce = line hit is insane… crazy bounces happen all over the court and especially near lines https://t.co/2qNMIBFb6k

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) May 24, 2023

The chair assault was reminiscent of Alexander Zverev’s attack on the chair in Mexico in February of 2022.