The Saint Brieuc Open ended on a controversial note for Czech player Matej Vocel and his doubles partner Jakub Paul, who were disqualified from the men’s doubles final due to a heated argument with the umpire. The incident unfolded when Vocel and Paul, holding a crucial break point at 3-3 in the first set, missed a shot, prompting an outburst from Vocel. The umpire immediately issued a warning, accusing Vocel of using offensive language in Croatian—a claim Vocel strongly denied.
Vocel’s Defense and Umpire’s Response
Vocel insisted he hadn’t directed any offensive language at the umpire, explaining, “I wasn’t talking to you, I swear. I was only talking to myself.” The umpire, however, countered, “You looked at me, and I heard what you said.” Partner Jakub Paul defended him, asserting, “He doesn’t even know that language.” Vocel clarified he had only used the Czech word “pica,” which he insisted wasn’t offensive in his language.
Despite their protests, the umpire and tournament supervisor ultimately decided to disqualify Vocel and Paul, awarding the victory to French pair Debru and Blancaneaux. Frustrated, Vocel smashed his racket against the net post, expressing his anger to the crowd: “This is absurd. A terrible decision, and now he’s really doing this? This is insane.”
Unfortunate End for Strong Title Contenders
With the match ending abruptly in the first set, the French duo claimed victory by default, leaving Vocel and Paul, the second seeds and strong title contenders, to exit the tournament in frustration.
Recent Challenges for the Vocel-Paul Duo
The Saint Brieuc incident adds to a string of recent setbacks for Vocel and Paul, who have faced difficulties since winning an ITF title in Switzerland in August. Following their loss in the ATP Challenger final in Roanne, this disqualification marks yet another disappointment. Currently, Vocel ranks among the top 200 doubles players, but his singles ranking remains outside the top 600. This latest incident may pose additional obstacles for his career progress in the coming months.
