Novak Djokovic has demanded a change in tennis after Jack Draper’s last-16 victory on the Cincinnati Open was marred by controversy.
Draper got here from a set all the way down to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, however his Canadian opponent disputed what has been described as ‘essentially the most controversial match level ever’.
The British No 1 hit the ball at a low angle and it appeared to then hit the ground, which despatched it bouncing excessive earlier than it clipped the online and dropped over onto his opponent’s aspect of the courtroom.
Umpire Greg Allansworth dominated it as a good shot and awarded the match to Draper, however his opponent described the choice as ‘horrendous’ and mentioned: ‘Did you not see the ball bounce on the ground?’
Tennis legend Djokovic has weighed in on the controversy describing it as ’embarrassing’ and demanding that ‘this nonsense by no means occurs once more’.
Novak Djokovic has demanded change after Jack Draper’s controversial win on the Cincinnati Open
Draper gained the ‘most controversial match level ever’ towards Felix Auger-Aliassime
The Canadian insisted Draper’s shot touched the bottom earlier than bouncing over the online
Djokovic mentioned that ‘it is embarrassing that we do not have video replays’ in these conditions
Djokovic’s tweet was in reply to fellow tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas saying that he has ‘by no means seen a shot like this earlier than’.
The Serbian replied: ‘It is embarrassing that we do not have video replay of those type of conditions on the courtroom.
‘What’s much more ridiculous is that we do not have the rule in place that may permit chair umpires to alter the unique name based mostly on the video assessment that occurs off the courtroom!
‘Everybody who watches TV sees what occurred on the replay, but the gamers on the courtroom are stored in ‘darkish’ not understanding what is the final result.
‘We’ve got Hawkeye for line calls, we dwell within the technologically superior twenty first century! Please, respective Excursions, make sure that this nonsense by no means occurs once more!’
Nick Kyrgios additionally commented on the controversy on social media insisting that Draper knew ‘precisely what occurred’.
The dearth of video assessment expertise meant that Auger-Aliassime couldn’t problem the decision from the umpire.
Draper, who seemed considerably stunned when the umpire known as the match in his favour, instantly mentioned: ‘I might replay it. If there was a replay I might replay however I do not know.’
The match supervisor was known as to deal with the scenario as Draper questioned a replay
Auger-Aliassime had insisted the umpire would ‘look ridiculous’ by standing by his determination
Auger-Aliassime finally conceded the purpose with the 2 gamers hugging on the internet
Draper had come from a set all the way down to win the match 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on the Cincinnati Open
Auger-Aliassime instructed Draper that he absolutely knew the ball had illegally hit the courtroom however the Brit insisted he was not ‘100 per cent’ certain’.
In a heated trade with Gregory Allensworth, Auger-Aliassime warned the umpire he would look ‘ridiculous’ if he stood by his determination to award the purpose to Draper.
‘You are going to get out every now and then it is going to go in all places and it is going to look ridiculous,’ mentioned Auger-Aliassime, who appeared to have been right.
‘I am critical, it is going to look ridiculous.
‘It’ll be loopy. I do know it’s not his [Draper’s] place to make that decision, it is match level for him, it is the win for him, however it’s your home to make that decision.
‘Are you critically not coming again in your name.’
Draper defined why he wasn’t certain what had occurred throughout his on-court interview when his win was sealed.
He mentioned: ‘I used to be too busy taking a look at him [Auger-Aliassime]. I did not see what occurred. I seemed on the umpire immediately to see if he known as a double bounce or not.
‘As a participant, I am attempting to deal with what I am doing. I am unable to make that decision if I am not 100 per cent. I mentioned, when the supervisor got here on, that if it was a double bounce and that he noticed it clearly then I might have 100 per cent replayed the purpose.’
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios have been among the many gamers to weigh in on the choice on-line
The controversy has renewed requires extra video replays, with American star Coco Gauff just lately calling for his or her use after controversial choices in her matches on the French Open and the Olympic Video games.
Video replays have been used on the US Open for the primary time final yr to verify for double bounces and foul pictures, with the system set to be in use once more at this month’s event.
Gamers shall be allowed as much as three incorrect challenges per set with the chair umpire in a position to assessment replays.
Draper, following the controversial conclusion to his match, will face Denmark’s Holger Rune within the quarter-finals in Cincinnati.
