A New Mexico high school tennis player has been penalized for speaking Spanish during a state championship singles match. The Albuquerque Journal reports that New Mexico Military Institute's Jose Gonzales was penalized a point Thursday for speaking Spanish after on-court official warned him twice to speak only English.
Gonzales eventually lost 6-4, 6-3 loss to Sandia Prep's Michael Atkin.
NMAA executive director Sally Marquez identified the official as Brian Bingham of Albuquerque.
Bingham told the Journal he did not speak Spanish and didn't know what Gonzales had said.
Last month, an umpire accused of trying to ban New Mexico high school baseball players from speaking Spanish during a game resigned.
Officials say it was within Bingham's discretion to penalize Gonzales, since the NMAA is following the United States Tennis Association rule book this week.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.