Wimbledon umpire Renaud Lichtenstein was shell-shocked when he was pulled away from the court during a rain delay. He was taking charge of Hubert Hurkacz's first-round clash with Radu Albot when the drizzle began to pick up and play was quickly suspended.

Covers need to be distributed swiftly across the court to ensure that the grass absorbs as little moisture as possible, calling the ground staff to take down the net at pace and remove all apparatus from the court.

Unfortunately for Lichtenstein, who stood tall on his umpire chair, that necessary measure also extended to him. He was startled as his chair was pulled back off the court with the official still sitting in it.

He buckled and threw his arms out and as the chair was taken up a divot his head was flung backwards and Lichtenstein jolted back and forth. The match was suspended after Hurkacz surprisingly dropped the first set 7-5.

However, once play resumed the Polish star rattled off 6-4, 6-3 and 6-4 victories to set up a second-round clash with world No. 34 Arthur Fils. After the win, Hurkacz bemoaned the rain but was pleased to have overcome a difficult opponent.

“It's the first match at Wimbledon, so always it's such an amazing event,” Hurkacz explained. “Being out here and seeing the fans, it's really special. A bit rainy today, but managed to get through this one.

“Radu was playing really great tennis. We were battling. They were close sets, and I needed to raise my level, especially after the rain delay. I knew I had to change a few things and managed to do it.”

Lichtenstein was, fortunately, able to resume and continue officiating the remainder of the match, but it was not the first time that the umpire has made headlines. Alexander Zverev was far from happy with the official at the French Open.

At the Roland Garros final, Carlos Alcaraz was serving while break-point down, as his German opponent felt that his opponent’s second serve was incorrectly called in.

Zverev would have levelled the set if Lichtenstein had agreed with him and called out, but instead the serve was deemed in and Alcaraz claimed his third title on as many surfaces.

“I mean, look, there's a difference whether you're down 3-1 in the fifth set or you're back to two-all,” Zverev said after his defeat. “That's a deciding difference.

“It’s frustrating in the end, but it is what it is. Umpires make mistakes. They're also human, and that's okay. But of course in a situation like that, you wish there wouldn't be mistakes.”