Tennis’s ‘most controversial match point EVER’! Brit Jack Draper wins at the Cincinnati Open, as rival says ‘you know where it went’… so can you work out why his winner sparked fury?
British tennis star Jack Draper reached the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime. The match was overshadowed by a row over a controversial match point.
Draper came back from a set down to beat the Canadian 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, but Auger-Aliassime held on for the British No. 1 and won the final point.
The referee ruled that Draper had hit the winning shot, with the ball hitting the frame of his racket and deflected into Auger-Aliassime’s half of the court with the help of a net cord.
Auger-Aliassime disputed that Draper hit the ball on the ground before looping.
Draper asked the referee for a replay. He said, ‘I’d play it again. If there was a replay I’d play it again, but I don’t know.’
Felix Auger-Aliassime contested the final point of his match against Britain’s Jack Draper, right
The Canadian insisted Draper’s shot hit the ground before bouncing over the net
Draper came back from a set down to win the match 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open
His rival replied, “Jack, you know, no matter what you look at, you’ve played enough to know where the ball went when you hit it.”
In a heated exchange with Gregory Allensworth, Auger-Aliassime warned the referee he would look “ridiculous” if he stuck to his decision to award the point to Draper.
“You go out there every now and then and it goes everywhere and it looks ridiculous,” said Auger-Aliassime, who seemed to be right.
‘I mean it, it’s going to look ridiculous.
“It’s gonna be crazy. I know it’s not his [Draper’s] place to make that decision, it’s match point for him, it’s the win for him, but it’s your place to make that decision.
“Are you really not coming back?”
As discussions took place on the field, the crowd began to chant ‘replay’ as the referee was called down to discuss the situation.
Draper would not concede the ball without replay evidence and insisted he did not know where the ball had gone.
The race director was called to discuss the situation, while Draper questioned a replay
Auger-Aliassime eventually gave away the point as the two players embraced at the net
“I don’t know, I was looking at him, it’s your decision,” he told the referee.
That’s why I said about the repetition earlier.
“I may seem like an idiot now because people say I’m dishonest, but I was looking at him.”
Referee Allensworth stood by his original decision and no video replays were available to view.
“I just have to call it as I saw it,” Allensworth told Auger-Aliassime. “If I had any doubts I would tell you, but listen, we can look back at it after the game and if I see I’m wrong I’ll admit it to you.
“But I can’t look back on it now.”
The controversial decision sparked a debate on social media, with Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost to Draper in the previous round, also giving his opinion.
“Oh my god I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo like this,” Tsitsipas posted.
Australian star Nick Kyrgios appeared to criticise Draper, claiming that Draper knew where the ball had gone.
‘Mate. Terrible call but every player knows you know exactly where you hit it hahaha ridiculous stuff,’ said Kyrgios.
Auger-Aliassime had insisted the referee would look ‘ridiculous’ if he stuck to his decision
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios were among the players who gave their opinions online about the decision
The controversy has led to renewed calls for more video replays. American star Coco Gauff recently called for its use after controversial decisions in her matches at Roland Garros and the Olympics.
Last year, the US Open introduced video replays to check for double bounces and free throws, and the system will be used again at this month’s tournament.
Players are allowed a maximum of three fouls per set, with the chair umpire able to review the replays.
After the controversial outcome of his quarter-final match in Cincinnati, Draper will face Dane Holger Rune.