German tennis player Danijel Altmajer found himself at the center of a shocking scandal at the Hamburg tournament after he lost control and threatened the safety of spectators during a quarterfinal match against American Tomi Pola.

The incident occurred during a dramatic moment in the second set, when Pola made a crucial break to lead 6-2, 5-4. Frustrated with the outcome, Altmajer first smashed his racket against the court, then hurled it towards his chair. This was followed by a powerful kick that sent the racket flying into the stands, among the shocked spectators.

Luckily, no one was injured, and a spectator quickly returned the racket to the court. Although Altmajer apologized by raising his hand, the umpire, Fergus Marfi, only issued a code violation for equipment misuse. The leniency of the penalty left the public horrified and sparked outrage on social media.

The decision not to immediately disqualify Altmajer led to a storm of reactions, including from famous tennis legend Rene Stabs. Stabs expressed her frustration on the platform "X":

- Are you kidding me?! How is this not an automatic disqualification? Who was sitting in the judge's chair?! - she wrote.

Comparison to Djokovic

Comments from fans worldwide further fueled the atmosphere, drawing parallels with Novak Djokovic and his disqualification from the 2020 US Open.

- Djokovic would have been disqualified and suspended for three months for this. - one of the most liked comments read.

Other users pointed out what they saw as "home-court bias," given that Altmajer was playing in front of his home crowd:

- This is a textbook example of a default, but the German in Hamburg was spared in front of his audience. Is tennis becoming one of the most corrupt sports in the world? - asked one user.

Public Outrage

The anger of the public went so far as to recall the recent incident of Corentin Moutet, who threw his shoe out of frustration, and the general treatment of male tennis players compared to female players.

- It's fascinating how there is endless debate when you see "cold" handling on the WTA tour, while in an average ATP match, you can see a player trying to kill someone in the public. - stated one post.

Incidents of throwing or kicking equipment into the crowd are considered one of the most serious offenses in tennis due to the direct threat to spectator safety. However, this time, Altmajer escaped with just a "yellow card," leaving many observers shocked.

(Telegraf.rs)