CONTROVERSY ERUPTS AS AMERICAN AVOIDS DRAMATIC DEFAULT

Alex Michelsen fell short in the Winston-Salem Open final 6-0, 6-3 against Lorenzo Sonego in 63 minutes, but it could have been worse after the American avoided a catastrophic default.

Having approached the net for a serve and volley trailing 0-3 and 30-40 in the first set, Michelsen sprayed his shot miles out, prompting an angry reaction as he grabbed a ball from his pocket and hit a crowd member sitting behind Sonego.

Michelsen immediately knew the severity of the incident - bending down to the ground with his hands covered over his mouth in a moment of regret.

Chair umpire Aurélie Tourte rushed toward the spectator as the latter insisted she was fine before Michelsen was handed a warning as the 20-year-old escaped from a potential default.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg shared the vision from Tennis TV on X and wrote: "Players launching balls into the crowd is a serious danger to spectators and there should be a zero-tolerance rule adapted for it ASAP. Getting lucky about where it hits should not be enough to escape a major penalty or default. An example should be set."

Similar comparisons have since been drawn to Novak Djokovic's default at the 2020 US Open when the Serbian accidentally struck a ball at a lineswoman's throat.

In the first round of the French Open earlier this year, Terence Atmane mistakingly struck a spectator during his match against Sebastian Ofner, forcing a 15-minute halt before play continued.