TENNIS fans called for a player to be banned after a shocking act on court which saw him disqualified.
Alexander Donski was playing alongside Siddhant Banthia in the ATP Challenger tournament in Barletta on the east coast of Italy.
Having won a tight clash on Wednesday, they faced Italian duo Gianluca Cadenasso and Simone Agostini in the quarter-finals.
The home favourites took the first set 6-2.
But things took a shock turn in the latter stages of the second.
With Donski and Banthia leading 4-3, it went to deuce on the Italians' serve – which means a sudden-death point to decide the game rather than the .
Therefore it was both game point for the servers and break point for the receivers, which would give them a 5-3 lead and the chance to serve for the set.
The receivers choose which side the point will start on – and opted for Donski to return.
But when the Bulgarian hit his comfortable forehand return straight at the volleyer, it gave Agostini an easy drop volley to win the game.
Donski chased after the ball but could not retrieve it before the double bounce – and the Italians had levelled the set at 4-4.
But as the ball bounced towards Donski, the world No203 doubles ace swiped his racquet at it furiously and sent the ball hurting back over the net.
However, in his fit of rage, he accidentally blasted the ball straight at Agostini and whacked him directly in the head at dangerously high speed.
Donski immediately held up his racquet in apology as he walked towards his stricken opponent to check on him.
A physio was called to the court where they treated the Agostini, who stayed on his feet but clutched his head.
But for Donski and Banthia, their fate was clear.
The supervisor and umpire had the Bulgarian-Indian duo for Donski's reckless act.
Disqualification means players are stripped of prize money and ranking points.
However, fans on social media do not believe that is enough of a punishment for Donski's horrendous act.
One said: “I feel like disqualifying is kind. They need to start giving some suspensions because it’s stillllll happeningggg.
“Dude could easily have concussion or internal bleeding. That was f***ing pelted at his head.”
Another wrote: “One of the most deserved defaults this year so far.”
And a third added: “They gotta STOP all this c**p. It's a privilege to play a child's game to make a living, not a right.
“When they , it leads to this type of stuff.
“Yes, it's tragic in a way, because of all the emotion involved in these matches, it's really hard to control oneself, but the rules must be enforced.”
