Rafael Nadal-Zizou Berg’s Rome match suspended due to medical incident; The game continued | ATP Tour

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Nadal-Berg’s Rome match suspended due to medical incident in the stands; The game continued

Game interrupted, Bergs leads by one set

May 9, 2024

Rafael Nadal hits a forehand during his first-round match against Zizou Bergs on Thursday in Rome.
By ATP employees

Play in the first round match between Rafael Nadal and Zizou Bergs was interrupted for around nine minutes on Thursday due to a medical incident in the stands of the Foro Italico.

Bergs had just won the first set 6-4 against the 10-time Internazionali BNL d’Italia champions in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. Nadal was leading 40/0 in the first game of the second set when the incident occurred.

The head referee Mohamed Lahyani quickly brought water bottles to the stands to quickly get them to the fan. The players looked on worriedly.

While medical staff attended to the fan, Nadal spoke with coach Carlos Moya to strategize after losing the first set. Bergs sat in his chair with his eyes closed for most of the delay.

Immediately after play resumed, Nadal held serve and then broke the Belgian’s serve for the second time in the match to take a 2-0 lead in the second set.