Novak Djokovic is the latest star to speak out on the controversial match point in Jack Draper’s victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open.
The Brit came from a set down to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, win over his Canadian opponent to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the competition. However, the win has been overshadowed by controversy
In what has been dubbed the ‘most controversial match point ever’, Draper hit a low-angle drop shot to catch Auger-Aliassime out. The shot clipped the net before bouncing onto his opponent’s side of the court, but replays appeared to show that the ball had bounced prior to hitting the net.
Auger-Aliassime was prepared to play the next point but umpire Greg Allensworth ruled that it was a fair point and he had therefore lost the match. Draper offered to replay the point if a replay had shown that he had shanked the shot, though his plea fell on deaf ears.
ennis superstar Djokovic has now spoken out on the incident, calling for the sport to embrace the rise in technology to prevent ‘embarrassing’ mishaps from occurring
Stefanos Tsitsipas initially tweeted about the incident, saying: “I don’t think I have ever seen a shot like this.” Djokovic then replied: “It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay of these kind of situations on the court.
What’s even more ridiculous is that we don’t have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court!
“Everyone who watches TV sees what happened on the replay, yet the players on the court are kept in ‘dark’ not knowing what’s the outcome. We have Hawkeye for line calls, we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please, respective Tours, make sure this nonsense never happens again!”
Nick Kyrgios has spoken out on the controversy recently too, arguing that Draper knew that he had mis-judged his shot despite the Brit insisting to Auger-Aliassime that he was ‘not 100 per cent’ sure.
The Australian wrote on X: “Mate. Horrible call, but every player knows exactly where you hit it hahaha ridiculous stuff.”
Following several calls for video replays to be implemented into events, it remains to be seen whether Draper’s success prompts conversations to be held by the higher powers in the sport or if the incident is viewed as an anomaly.
