French Open umpire reluctantly grants emergency bathroom break request

Frenchman Arthur Gea had a debut to forget at the storied clay courts in Paris.

On Day 1 of the French Open, Gea left the court midway during the opening set for an urgent bathroom break after getting special permission from the chair umpire.

“I need to go to the bathroom. I can’t move anymore. I’m going to (go) on the court,” he explained in French, according to the Associated Press.

Usually, bathroom breaks are only allowed between sets.

Despite the protests of 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov that resulted in a three-minute delay in the match, Gea was allowed to have the break due to “medical circumstances.”

Khachanov was leading the match 4-2 at the time. He went on to defeat the 135th-ranked Gea 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0.

Gea, 21, received a wild card entry into the main draw at this year’s French Open. He said he began feeling ill early in the morning before Wednesday’s match.

“It was harder than usual, because I was ill,” he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arthur Gea makes urgent request for bathroom break at French Open