French Open: 'Extraordinary' scene as Hubert Hurkacz asks Grigor Dimitrov if umpire can be removed at Roland-Garros

There were some remarkable scenes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen during Hubert Hurkacz's French Open fourth-round encounter with Grigor Dimitrov as the Pole asked his opponent if he wanted to switch out the umpire in a very bizarre fashion. It proved to only be Hurkacz who wanted to have the official removed with Dimitrov happy to continue, making for some incredibly awkward moments at Roland Garros.

Watch remarkable moment Hurkacz asks Dimitrov if he wants umpire 'changed'

Video credit: TNT Sports

There was a bewildering passage of Hubert Hurkacz's fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov at the French Open as the 10th seed asked his opponent if he would agree with having the umpire, Alison Hughes, replaced.

Hurkacz, clearly feeling aggrieved from an earlier decision from the official, suddenly asked Dimitrov at a crucial changeover at 6-5 in the third set if he would like to have Hughes replaced.

A bemused Dimitrov could offer not much more than several shrugs before he eventually admitted that he was fine with Hughes continuing to officiate the match.

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It all made for an incredibly awkward few minutes as Hurkacz repeatedly put his opponent in the uncomfortable position of having to answer his request to have the umpire replaced.

After making the substitution gesture with his hands, Hurkacz directly asked Dimitrov right in front of the umpire at the changeover: "G, do you want to make a change?

"I mean, do you want to continue with the lady here? Do you want to continue or make a change? It's up to you. Change the lady, the chair umpire..."

Dimitrov responded with several shrugs and said: "Honestly, it's fine."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Naomi Cavaday, on commentary for Eurosport at the time, said: "Well, you don't see that very often!

"Hurkacz is asking Grigor if he would be happy to change the umpire. I don't think Dimitrov has really had too much of an issue with the umpire so far in this.

"Well, they are deep in discussion, the two of them, quite extraordinary at this point in the match!

"This is a tight moment at 6-5 in the third on serve, potentially heading towards a tie-break, but Hurkacz at the change of ends asked Grigor, 'Would you like to change the umpire? Are you happy with the umpire?'

"Actually, I think Grigor is saying, 'I haven't had any issues with the umpire at all! He completely agreed with her on the call that Hurkacz disputed.

"Hurkacz clearly feeling a little hard done by, but that is an unusual situation."

Pippa Horn added: "I don't think there have been many contentious calls up until this point, it was just the last one."

Eventually, Dimitrov managed to mediate matters successfully by coming over to the Pole's chair and having a chat with him about the situation.

Play did resume with Hughes admirably unmoved by the strange situation, and Dimitrov went on to seal a superb straight-sets, 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(3), victory to reach the quarter-finals.

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