Arthur Géa urgently pleads for bathroom break while feeling ill during French Open first-round match vs. Karen Khachanov

In first-round action at the 2026 French Open on Sunday, Arthur Géa lost his first-round match in straight sets to No. 13 seed Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6, 6-0.

However, if the 21-year-old Frenchman was to be believed, he nearly lost so much more on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

During the first set of his French Open debut, Géa pleaded with the umpire to be allowed a bathroom break. Typically, such breaks are only permitted between sets. But according to Géa, he was feeling sick and had an urgent situation that needed addressing.

“I think it’s going to go out, really,” the broadcast recorded Géa telling the umpire. “I cannot wait. It’s not a joke.”

Citing the rules, the umpire said he couldn’t give Géa the time he needed during games of the set. As he continued to protest, Géa made his condition explicitly clear.

“I’m gonna s*** on the f***ing court,” he said. “Just explain the situation, please!”

The first-round match was played under very hot conditions at Roland Garros, with temperatures reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius).

Asked if he was dealing with a medical condition, Géa explained in French that he was experiencing diarrhea. That apparently wasn’t enough to persuade officials to let him leave the court. Khachanov understandably wanted to know why there was a delay, but the set resumed.

After the game was completed, Géa was allowed to use the restroom due to “medical circumstances” and immediately did so. He was also given some medicine to treat what he said was stomach pain.

Following the match, Géa said that he wasn’t ill during the Saturday night before his match. However, he began feeling sick when he awoke in the morning.

“During the match, it was even worse,” he said, via the Associated Press. “I had to go to the toilet really quick.”

Géa, ranked No. 135 in the world, received a wild-card invitation to play in his homeland Grand Slam tournament. He is a native of Velleron, France. Though he did not win his French Open debut, his appearance will likely be memorable for reasons he would surely prefer to forget.

With his win, Khachanov advances to face Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti on Wednesday.