A TENNIS star was left bleeding from his face after hitting himself with a racket.
But a legend of the sport slammed his suspicious injury.
X @TennisTVAdrian Mannarino cut his own head open after hitting himself with a tennis racket[/caption]
AFPMannarino was left with a cut on his forehead[/caption]
Frenchman Adrian Mannarino was taking on Italy’s Lorenzeo Sonego at the United Cup in Sydney when the bizarre incident occurred.
Mannarino won the first set 6-4 but found his tennis serve almost broken in the second.
He then proceeded to bizarrely hit himself in the forehead with the butt of his racquet.
Onlookers were stunned by Mannarino’s behaviour.
But they were even more blown away when it became clear that he had cut his head open in the process.
A patch of blood could clearly be seen seeping above Mannarino’s eyes.
And the chair umpire stopped the match for a medical timeout, leaving Sonego incensed.
He also reached the semi-finals of the 1987 Australian Open and the 1993 US Open.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
AFPMannarino needed extensive treatment on the sideline[/caption]
Times Newspapers LtdWally Masur, left, was not impressed with Mannarino’s behaviour[/caption]
And Masur questioned the timing of Mannarino’s self-inflicted injury, with Sonego turning up the heat at the exact same time.
Speaking on commentary for Channel Nine, he said: “If [an injury] is self-inflicted, can you have a timeout? You can’t injure yourself, can you?
“Let’s say you’re in a tricky situation, you go ‘right, I’m going to bas myself with a racket and get a breather’.”
Courtside commentator Mark Philippoussis quipped: “Perfect timing at 0-30, time to gather himself.
“At the other end, I guess Sonego wouldn’t be happy. Now he has to cool off.”
Masur continued: “Why has this taken so long? Get one of those little band aids, the round ones.
“This does not constitute a medical timeout in my opinion.
“This is not a good look for the sport. This is not necessary. The way the trainers are, you would think he requires stitches.
“Blood is not streaming from his head. It is like a pinprick. I have seen it all now.”