US Open star throws up on court amid scorching New York temperatures
Tomas Etcheverry appeared to be suffering in the heat during his US Open clash against Francisco Cerundolo on Wednesday.
So much so that before returning to a late game, the Argentine threw up all over the court.
Remarkably, Etcheverry managed to overcome his belly problems and claim victory over his countryman on a scorching day at Flushing Meadows.
Temperatures reached the mid-30s in New York while Etcheverry’s second-round clash against Cerundolo went the distance before he sealed a6-3 4-6 6-4 1-6 6-3 victory.
Several players had found it difficult to compete in the heat but none more than Etcheverry.
After nearly four hours on Court 5 in excruciating heat, the world No. 33 was 4-1 up in the fifth set as he made his way to start the sixth game.
However, he suddenly felt something wrong and put his hand up but he could not react in time.
Before the 25-year-old could return to his towel box, he had spewed up on himself and all over the court.
Meanwhile, Cerundolo watched from across the net in shock, sweating profusely himself.
In remarkable fashion, Etcheverry managed to claw himself back onto the court and regroup – even fighting through a lengthy three-deuce game that Cerundolo eventually won.
However, the La Plata-born star eventually landed victory after four hours and four minutes, reaching the third round of the US Open for the first time in his career in the process.
The two Argentinians embraced after the gruelling match, with Cerundolo clearly not put off by the vomit from earlier.
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It means that Etcheverry will now face fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the third round while he has already exacted revenge on Cerundolo – from a junior match nearly 15 years ago.
Before his second-round clash, Etcheverry said: “I still have that chip on my shoulder!
“I remember it was a semi-final in Carilo. We were about nine, that’s when we met for the first time.
“The winner was guaranteed a beautiful trophy, the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, still today.
“And I was really upset because I lost to ‘Fran’ after having a match point.
“I cried so much that my family was worried. At some point, my dad told me not to play tennis anymore because he was seeing me suffer so much.”
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