The dad of Italian tennis star Camila Giorgi has been caught attempting to have a sneaky vape during his daughter’s fourth-round clash in the French Open.
Camila was up against Daria Kasatkina for a place in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros when the camera panned to her father and coach Sergio Giorgi in the stands.
Sergio appeared to be covering his face with a towel before blowing out a puff of smoke into the air, caught red-handed in the act.
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The footage left fans in stitches online.
Tennis journalist Tumaini Carayol tweeted: “Hope the cameraman/woman gets the raise they deserve.”
While another Twitter user said: “Sergio is worthy of his place in the pantheon of crazed tennis dads!”
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The subtle vape must have been a stress-relieving technique as his daughter suffered a 6-2 6-2 straight sets defeat to the Russian to knock her out of the tournament.
Sergio wasn’t the only Giorgi to cause controversy at the tournament with Camila making headlines for her choice of outfit in the third round matchup of the French Open.
The world number 30 was getting ready to face Aryna Sabalenka when the umpire took issue with what the Italian was wearing.
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The official appeared to have an issue with the size of the advertising logo on Girogi’s outfit and apparently wanted her to change her outfit.
The logo in question was that of kitchen appliance manufacturer DeLonghi, with Giorgi posting a picture of herself before the game tagging DeLonghi.
When the umpire asked for a wardrobe change, Giorgi reportedly said: “I don't have any change, this is my only dress. I played with it before.”
The Italian had worn the same style of dress already in the tournament, however, it did not feature the DeLonghi logo at that time.
According to commentator Jose Morgado, the umpire permitted Girogi to play in the outfit but would mention it to the ‘office’ after the match.
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Giorgi slightly altered her outfit ahead of the fourth round matchup, with the DeLonghi logo appearing on her sleeve instead.
With her exit from the tournament, she will be preparing for her next competition on the grass courts of Nottingham for a WTA 50 tournament.
Her opponent, Kasatkina will face fellow Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the quarter-finals.
Jayden Collins