French tennis player Arthur Gea faced an unexpected challenge during his first-round match at the French Open on Sunday. His match was interrupted as he requested an emergency bathroom break while competing against Russian player Karen Khachanov.

Gea, who received a wild-card entry to play at Roland Garros, found himself trailing Khachanov 4-2 in the first set. In a moment of urgency, Gea pleaded with the chair umpire for permission to leave the court, expressing his need to use the restroom.

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“I need to go to the bathroom. I can’t move anymore. I’m going to s— on the f—ing court,” Gea expressed in desperation. However, bathroom breaks are generally not allowed during games as they are typically reserved for break times between sets.

Responding to Gea’s plea, officials appeared on Court Suzanne-Lenglen to discuss the medical reasoning behind the timeout. Gea explained he was feeling “sick” due to “diarrhea”, a claim corroborated by a trainer who indicated Gea had “stomach problems”.

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Despite his efforts, the match continued after a brief inquiry. As soon as the subsequent point was played, Gea quickly headed to the locker rooms. Post-match, Gea mentioned that the umpire allowed him a break due to “medical circumstances”, and he received medication to alleviate his stomach issues.

Gea shared that he hadn’t experienced any illness the night before, but symptoms began in the morning. Unfortunately, Gea’s match ended with a defeat against Khachanov in straight sets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.