For the second time in her profession, Iga Swiatek made it to the semifinal on the Australian Open as she outplayed Emma Navarro 6-1, 6-2 within the quarterfinal tie on Wednesday on the Rod Laver Area. However the win was marred by a serious controversy, which sparked intense response from the tennis world with followers even labelling Swiatek as a “cheat.”
Australian Open rocked by double-bounce drama
Given her file in Melbourne, few gave Swiatek an opportunity to make the semis, not to mention the ultimate or win her fifth Grand Slam title. However the second seed has been cruising comfortably via the underside half of the draw, having not dropped a single set to date.
Nevertheless, the Pole discovered herself within the midst of a controversial second in the course of the quarterfinal match, when she gained a vital level in response to a drop shot from Navarro, regardless of the ball having bounced twice. It occurred within the second set of the match because the American rapidly pointed it out to the umpire on the finish of the purpose, however it was rejected. The purpose handed benefit to Swiatek on her function she finally gained the sport with backhand winner to take a 3-2 lead.
“Honestly, I didn’t see the replay after this point, because after the point I didn’t look up to the screens because I wanted to stay focussed,” Swiatek informed reporters after the match. “I didn’t want (that) point to stay in my head for a longer period of time, but I wasn’t sure if it was a double-bounce or I hit it with my frame. It was hard to say because I was full-sprinting and I don’t remember even seeing the contact point. I don’t know. Sometimes, you don’t really look when you hit the ball. So, I wasn’t sure. I thought ‘this is the umpire’s job to call it’. “I didn’t see it, so I just kind of proceeded, and I was I already focussed on the next (point).”
The second quickly sparked a furore on air, with commentator Sam Smith lashing out on the chair umpire and questioning why Navarro didn’t go for a assessment. He stated: “You’re kidding me! And Navarro thinks the same. She thinks that’s not up. But the umpire is having none of it. That’s clearly a double bounce. So why didn’t she ask for a video review?”
Jelena Dokic replied: “Well, she asked after the point was done, and you’ve got to ask right then. Maybe she wasn’t sure, so maybe she wanted to play thinking she would win this point. She did ask the umpire, who didn’t allow it.”
Smith stated: “That’s not a great rule. How are you supposed to react?” Alicia Molik added: “That’s a really awkward one for both players.”
Commentator Jose Morgado stated: “What? Where is VAR? This is ridiculous. Clear double bounce.”
He later added “Swiatek was awarded this point. QF of a slam. Terrible look for tennis” together with a nonetheless shot of the ball clearly bouncing earlier than Swiatek hit it again.
The second additionally introduced the tennis rule over video evaluations underneath the scanner within the season’s first Grand Slam, together with the dearth of let machines on nets.
Among the many followers, whereas few blamed Swiatek for the incident, saying she ought to have owned as much as the error, others pointed their fingers on the match official.
“Iga Swiatek saw on the big screen her shot was a double bounce (not up), and was still awarded the point by the umpire. Complete lack of integrity. Should have willingly relinquished the point to Emma Navarro. That stinks,” declared X account Jayele.
“She at least could have apologised to Navarro after point,” urged one other tennis fan.
“Yet again another example, Iga Swiatek is a cheat. She should have owned up, it was a clear double bounce,” was one other robust response.
“You know when it bounces twice. Even novice tennis players do,” wrote one other.