Cincinnati, Aug 20: Novak Djokovic has expressed his frustration over a contentious umpiring decision that marred the Cincinnati Open’s Round of 16 match between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper. The match concluded amid controversy when a disputed shot by Draper was incorrectly ruled in his favor, despite appearing to bounce twice on his side of the court.
During a pivotal moment, Draper was awarded the point after a shot that seemed to have bounced on his side before crossing the net. The chair umpire, Greg Allensworth, who did not have access to instant replay, sided with Draper, leading to Auger-Aliassime’s controversial exit from the tournament. The decision triggered an immediate outcry from Auger-Aliassime, who argued that the point should have been his and engaged in lengthy discussions with both Draper and the umpire.
The incident has sparked a debate about the necessity of technological support in tennis, with Djokovic leading the charge. On Saturday, Djokovic took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the lack of video replay for such critical moments. He criticized the absence of a rule allowing umpires to review and potentially overturn decisions based on video evidence.
“It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay for these situations on the court. What’s even more ridiculous is the lack of a rule that permits umpires to change their call based on video reviews that occur off the court,” Djokovic wrote.
Djokovic highlighted the disparity between players on the court, who are often left without clarity, and viewers at home, who benefit from instant replays. He urged for advancements similar to those used in line calls, stressing that tennis should not lag behind in the technological age.
“Everyone watching on TV sees the replay and knows what really happened, while players are left in the dark. We have Hawkeye for line calls, and we live in the 21st century! It’s time for the respective Tours to ensure that this kind of issue is addressed and prevented in the future,” he added.
While major tournaments like the US Open have embraced technology to assist with line calls, many others, including the Cincinnati Open, have yet to follow suit. This ongoing issue has been a source of frustration for players and fans alike, with concerns about the accuracy and consistency of officiating remaining a hot topic in the tennis world.
