A stray bat disrupted a tennis match at the Madrid Open
Wednesday 4 May 2016 08:47, UK
Leonard Mayer's match against Feliciano Lopez had to be halted when a bat landed on court at the Madrid Open.
The umpire was forced to stop the action when the bat flew onto the clay court surface during the opening set of the first round match.
Mayer swiftly came to the rescue of the small animal, cradling it in a towel before passing it over to a match official.
Play soon resumed and the Argentinian would drop the opening set before battling back to level the match in the second.
But Mayer's act of kindness went unrewarded as he would eventually depart the tournament with a 6-7 6-4 4-6 defeat to the Spaniard.
Lopez will next face Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who sealed a a 6-1 7-6 victory against Spanish qualifier Roberto Carballes.
Click on the video above to see Mayer rescue the bat at the Madrid Open.
