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Novak Djokovic didn’t mince his words as he spoke strongly on the controversial umpiring decision that ended the match between Auger-Aliassime and Draper.
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s campaign at the Cincinnati Open came to a controversial end in the Round of 16, where he suffered a disputed defeat to Jack Draper. The match reached a boiling point during a critical moment when Draper, having a match point, hit a shot that appeared to bounce on his side of the court before crossing the net – a situation that should have granted Auger-Aliassime the point
The contentious call left Auger-Aliassime visibly frustrated. He engaged in a prolonged discussion with Draper and the umpire, contending that the point should have been his due to the apparent double bounce. The incident has since raised questions about the need for technological assistance in such crucial moments, leaving fans and analysts alike debating the outcome.
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On Saturday, Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis legend, also reacted strongly to the incident. Taking to his official X account, Djokovic stated it was “embarrassing” that there remains no video assistance to help rectify such calls.
“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!” Djokovic said.
Djokovic said that the players are kept in the dark about the actual outcome while fans who watch the game on television are better equipped to make correct decisions, thanks to replays.
“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!” said the Serbian tennis legend.
