French Open doubles player Mahut caught in spitting controversy

Nicolas Mahut, left, had a heated argument with officials at the French Open ©Getty Images

France's Nicolas Mahut found himself in a bizarre spitting controversy during a doubles match at this year's French Open, after being warned for violating the rarely-enforced rule.

During a match with his partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert against The Netherlands' Wesley Koolhof and Croatia's Nikola Mektić, Mahut argued with the umpire and the supervisor over his on-court conduct.

He was given a warning on Court Simmone Mathieu for spitting at the back of the court, with the umpire stating that the violation occurred after three separate incidents.

Mahut took issue with the supervisor, who came out on court due to a stand-off.

"I'm not talking to you!" said Mahut to the umpire.

"I'll talk to the supervisor and you don't talk to me, from now until the end of the match."

Spitting is against the rules at Roland Garros, with the umpire informing the supervisor that Mahut had committed the offence on three occasions.

"Every time I play on clay I have something in my throat and I have to spit on the court," said Mahut to the supervisor, but his explanation was rejected.

"You have to use tissues in your pocket," they replied.

Mahut lashed back, calling it "the most stupid rule I have ever heard".

Nicolas Mahut got a unsportsmanlike conduct warning from the umpire for spitting on the court 3 times, when he was warned twice. Nico isn’t happy and refuses to play on saying he’s never got a warning for this in 20 years of his career. Umpire says it’s a “new pandemic rule.” pic.twitter.com/VrXQvt7BMU
— R. (@drivevolleys) October 4, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Roland Garros organisers have introduced more rules to ensure hygiene in a bid to ensure the French Open goes ahead.

The sixth seeds eventually lost to Koolhof and Mektić, with the ninth seeds winning the third round clash 6-2, 7-6.

Mahut's most famous moment came at Wimbledon in 2010 when he lost a five-set match against the United States' John Isner in the longest tennis match of all time.

Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68 after 11 hours and five minutes – with the final set lasting a whopping eight hours and 11 minutes.

The match took three days to complete.

The 38-year-old Mahut has won all four Grand Slams in doubles.

Although rare, spitting has been punished in the past, albeit in incidents where it has been regarded as an assault rather than just spitting.

Romanian Victor Hanescu was fined in 2010 at Wimbledon after allegedly being insulted by members of the crowd at the competition.

American Andre Agassi once called a chair umpire a "son of a bitch" and spat on him, although the spitting penalty was rescinded after it was deemed accidental.