Frenchman Benoit Paire left fans and commentators alike scratching their heads following an uninspired outing against Cameron Norrie at the U.S. Open.
Paire, 33, was swiftly ousted from the running at Flushing Meadows following a 0-6, 6-7(1), 0-6 defeat to Norrie on Court 11. There's no shame in losing to the ninth ranked men's player in the world, but BBC Radio 5 Live's Naomi Broady was among those to question his efforts after he started packing away his things at 5-0 down in the third set.
"Benoit's just packing his stuff up," she said as the events unfolded. "He has put all his racquets in his bag and handed his sweaty shirt to someone in the crowd. That would not be a shirt I would want to receive. Does he realise he has another game to go?"
It was all too clear Paire had given up on the thought of what might have been an audacious comeback, but possible nonetheless. He recorded just two double faults in the opening set but gave up 11 across the final two legs, furthering the notion he was eager to reach the finish line, irrespective of how.
Tennis writer Jose Morgado suggested there was a "big fine coming" for the veteran, whom he said 'wasn't even trying' at the time. Paire came close to pulling level with Norrie at one set apiece after briefly going two games ahead in the second salvo, but all determination appeared drained once he found himself trailing by two sets.
It was midway through Tuesday's second set that play was paused after a fan fainted in the stands at Court 11. Paire was told off by umpire Carlos Bernardes for receiving too much coaching during the delay, despite tennis' ongoing trial that allows for more interaction between players and their mentors.
Any remaining momentum that was running in Paire's direction was nowhere to be seen after the break in play, leaving Norrie free to assert his dominance. The former won just four points on his own serve over the course of the final set, winning just 31 per cent of his first-service points in the same span.
Paire was ranked 92nd in the world when the entry list for the U.S. Open was decided in July, though he came into the tournament sat 173rd among the ATP elite. Players receive $80,000 (£68,700) just for appearing in the first round of the U.S. Open (increasing to £104,000 if they reach the second stage).
Norrie joined fellow Briton Andy Murray in the second round after the Scot beat Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets on Monday to advance. Emma Raducanu will attempt to follow their lead when the defending champion takes on Alize Cornet in her curtain-raiser on Wednesday.
