Tennis can be brutal! With the pressure to put everything on the court, some players go all-in with aggression, while others plot with tactics. But in the end, it’s all about bringing passion every single point, right? While this excitement is expected, Hugo Gaston had a truly unexpected turn during his match at the Generali Open against Norbert Gombos!

On Monday, both players took to the clay courts of Kitzbuhel, Austria, amped for their first ATP tour clash. Hugo and Gombos were giving everything, until a wild rally changed the tone. Gaston fired back an impressive drop shot, landing so close to the net on the other side. The Slovakian dashed in from the baseline, returned it, but Hugo was right there to flick it back—straight into Norbert’s chest! Yikes!

The match stopped as Norbert let out a yell and crouched to the ground in pain. The umpire was off his chair in a second. Hugo Gaston darted across the net to check on his opponent. He apologized immediately, making clear this was just an accident.

After a short break, play resumed. In the end, Hugo lost to Norbert, who took the match in straight sets: 3-6, 4-6. Still, it was an electric clash. Gaston’s opponent wasn’t the only one who needed a timeout. The Frenchman called an MTO during the first set to treat his left arm! Play paused at 2-5 with the 24-year-old about to serve.

Though he lost, Hugo Gaston’s sportsmanship showed it was pure tennis passion at work! With his tough season, a flash of emotion was bound to show up. Like at Roland Garros, where he battled through a dramatic five-set opener against Ugo Blanchet but had to withdraw before facing Ben Shelton in the next round due to physical issues.

Despite the setbacks, Gaston kept competing on tour, making appearances in places like Kitzbühel and Bastad. He didn’t grab a win against top 10 players this year, and his campaign was hit by form swings and injuries. But this wasn’t the first time Hugo’s been at the center of a shocking tennis moment! Last year, he faced a “double bounce” controversy with Alexander Zverev.

Gaston Hugo reveals his thoughts on argument with umpire

At the 2024 Hamburg Open, all eyes were on Zverev defending his home title, until a controversial double bounce stole the spotlight. Battling Gaston in a tense round two, the German clawed his way to a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach the last eight. But during set point in the opener, drama erupted. Zverev seemed to seal the point with a no-look overhead, but Gaston returned it and clinched the set, even as video replays suggested a clear double bounce.

Zverev was quick to voice his frustration, first arguing with Hugo Gaston and umpire Alison Hughes, then calling for the tournament supervisor. No luck—the point stood. After eventually winning the match, Zverev didn’t mince words. “We all saw what happened. It was a clear double bounce,” he told Inside Sport. “It was on a very important point and today it did cost me the set. That’s what happened… a bad decision at the end of the day from the umpire.”

Later, Gaston took to Instagram to set the record straight. He assured fans he would’ve owned up to the double bounce if he’d noticed it himself. “People did not understand and did not feel the ball bounced twice. I fought as much as possible. If I felt the ball had bounced twice, I would have admitted it. Sascha and myself know that. I would have preferred to win after such a tough match, but I hope next time!”

With the controversy behind him, Gaston now turns his focus to the next tournament. Can he channel this fire into a comeback? Share your predictions in the comments below!