Novak Djokovic has referred to as for the introduction of video critiques in tennis after the weird conclusion to Jack Draper’s match on the Cincinnati Open prompted a wider debate about using replays within the sport.
Draper, the British No 1, beat Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to succeed in the quarter-finals of the competitors, however the match led to a heated argument with an offended Auger-Aliassime claiming to officers that Draper’s successful volley had gone into the bottom first. The umpire, Greg Allensworth, was unable to view a replay and referred to as the purpose in Draper’s favour.
The supervisor was referred to as on to court docket, however had no grounds to overturn the choice with replays unavailable and Draper insisting he hadn’t seen what occurred and unwilling to replay the purpose. “It’s going to go in all places now and it’s going to look ridiculous,” the Canadian instructed the umpire.
Two-times grand slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas reposted a video of the purpose on X, including: “I don’t assume I’ve ever seen a shot like this.”
Responding to that submit, Djokovic referred to as for using common video critiques to assist forestall such incidents. “It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay of those type of conditions on the court docket,” he wrote. “What’s much more ridiculous is that we don’t 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 court docket!
“Everybody who watches TV sees what occurred on the replay, but the gamers on the court docket are stored in [the] ‘darkish’ not understanding what’s the result. We now have Hawk-Eye for line calls, we dwell within the technologically superior twenty first century! Please respective Excursions, be certain this nonsense by no means occurs once more!”
Draper’s run on the Cincinnati Open got here to an finish on Sunday as he went down 4-6, 2-6 to Holger Rune within the quarter-finals. A decent first set was selected its solely break level, earlier than Rune broke the Briton once more at begin of the second set and saved three break factors on his personal serve to finish the triumph.
Rune will play Frances Tiafoe subsequent, after Hubert Hurkacz retired from their match with the American main by a set. The highest seed, Jannik Sinner, will play Alexander Zverev within the different semi-final.
Within the ladies’s event, Iga Swiatek fought again to beat Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to arrange a semi-final assembly with Aryna Sabalenka. American Jessica Pegula will meets Spain’s Paula Badosa after they got here by means of their quarter-final matches.
