Play had to temporarily stop in Melbourne in order to clean up the stain.

Frances Tiafoe throwing up during his Australian Open match. (Image: ESPN.)

Frances Tiafoe vomited on the court but returned to defeat Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3 and claim a place in the Australian Open second round.

High heat and humidity in Melbourne, coupled with the 17th seed’s own fitness issues, plagued Tiafoe as he was taken to a decider.

Up 5-2 in the fourth set, the American star could not close out while serving for the match and raised eyebrows when he walked over to the side of the court during play.

However, it quickly became apparent that Tiafoe needed a break as he walked to the sideline and threw up after also leaving a mark on the court by the baseline.

He picked up a bin liner and vomited some more into it, before returning to the court, though spectators inside the 1573 Arena were informed that a delay in play was necessary in order to get the mark cleaned up.

“Whether that was in or out, he is not moving (well),” Chris McKendry said on commentary for ESPN. “I don’t know whether something is wrong with him…

James Blake added: “Rennae Stubbs is courtside and obviously Rennae, Frances is sick on the court, now off the court as well.”

Frances Tiafoe struggling while receiving medical treatment. (Image: Getty)

Stubbs explained: “Yeah, listen we know how hot it can get in Australia and it is certainly hot but the conditions aren’t terrible.

“But he just threw up on the court so this is terrible for him. I don’t know James, sometimes it can help, sometimes it is not going to be easy for him to get back out there.”

In the commentary booth they joked that Tiafoe could have thrown up on the court rather than a bin in order to buy himself a short break, while the vomit was cleaned up, before returning to clinch the decider.

In the fifth set he kept points as short as possible, utilising the serve and volley, before breaking Rinderknech twice to seal a place in the next round.

“Loose game there, 5-3, brought it back to deuce and wasn’t able to convert,” Tiafoe detailed to ESPN. “Obviously tired but feeling fine. Then get the line and puke. I have some ab cramps during that, then I’m cramping all over the place.

“He plays a pretty good breaker. Any other tournament, I would have pulled out but it’s a Slam. I’m in the second part of my career and these are the tournaments I care about the most. Whatever it takes.

“I really loosened up. At 5-3, I just didn’t care at all. I thought he was going to hold. Played some good points. He got a little tight there, I got lucky. That’s a big win.”