Arthur Gea Abruptly Runs Off Tennis Court for Emergency Bathroom Break During French Open Debut: ‘I Cannot Wait’ Desiree AnelloSun, May 24, 2026 at 4:51 PM UTC 23 Arthur Gea at the French Open; Gea running off the court to use the bathroom on May 24, 2026Credit: Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty; tntsports/X Arthur Gea abruptly ran off the tennis court for an emergency bathroom break during his French Open debut “I cannot wait, it’s not a joke,” the 21yearold French pro tennis player said to the umpire before sprinting to the bathroom Following the match, the French tennis star said that he wo...
Arthur Gea Abruptly Runs Off Tennis Court for Emergency Bathroom Break During French Open Debut: ‘I Cannot Wait’
Desiree AnelloSun, May 24, 2026 at 4:51 PM UTC
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Arthur Gea at the French Open; Gea running off the court to use the bathroom on May 24, 2026
Credit: Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty; tntsports/X -
Arthur Gea abruptly ran off the tennis court for an emergency bathroom break during his French Open debut
“I cannot wait, it’s not a joke,” the 21-year-old French pro tennis player said to the umpire before sprinting to the bathroom
Following the match, the French tennis star said that he woke up that morning feeling unwell
Arthur Gea paused the first set of his French Open debut to take an emergency bathroom break.
On Sunday, May 24, the 135th-ranked French tennis star, 21, dramatically dashed off the Suzanne-Lenglen Court in Paris after telling the umpire that he had to urgently use the restroom in the middle of his match against Karen Khachanov.
“I need to go to the bathroom. I can't move anymore,” Gea said to the chair umpire before running off, according to the . “I'm going to (go) on the court.”
“I cannot wait. It's not a joke,” he added, as seen in a TNT Sports video.
While Gea was trailing Khachanov 4-2 when he abruptly paused the match, Khachanov protested to the umpire as three minutes passed before they were able to resume.
According to a rule introduced by the Association of Tennis Professionals in 2022, players can take a maximum of three minutes once they have entered the toilet. Additionally, a player may only take one toilet break per match during a set break.
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In this case, Gea said that the umpire allowed him the break because of “medical circumstances,” noting that he was given medications to ease his stomach pain.
Ultimately, Khachanov won the match 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-0.
Arthur Gea during 2026 French Open
Credit: Franco Arland/Getty
Following the match, Gea said that he woke up that morning feeling unwell after not feeling any symptoms the night before.
“I was feeling really, really bad this morning in particular. But during the match was even worse because it was a bit hot and I had to go to the toilet really quick and they didn't allow it,” he said during a press conference. “I was asking the referee because I was feeling really, really bad and then the doctor came and obviously I could go out and it was not so long.”
In addition to Gea's illness, his match against Khachanov took place during a grueling heat wave in Paris with temperatures nearing 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As spectators fanned themselves with newspapers in the stands, players attempted to keep cool and stay hydrated on the court.
“I was feeling a bit better but it was still really bad,” Gea continued of his condition after returning the bathroom. “It was really, really hard physically with my health.”
on People
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: May 26, 2026 at 02:27AM on Source: MORNING MAG
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