Jack Draper’s dramatic win over Felix Auger-Aliassime was overshadowed by a controversial match point which left the two players arguing at the net. The British No.1 was 5-4 and 40-30 up in the deciding set, when he appeared to shank a drop shot that looped in the air, landing on the net cord before trickling over.
But there was a momentary pause from both players and spectators, with people unsure as to whether the ball had made contact with the ground after coming off the frame of Draper’s racket.
The umpire then announced “Ladies and gentleman. I’m ruling that was a fair shot. Game, set, match Draper.”
Draper himself appeared unsure with the announcement, immediately saying: “I would replay it. If there was a replay I would replay it but I don’t know?”
Auger-Aliassime then joined his rival at the net, and was clearly angered as he remonstrated with both Draper and the official. “But did you not see the ball bounce on the floor?” he asked, with the umpire replying that he did not see that happen.
The Canadian repeatedly shouted “he shanked it on the floor” before warning: “You’re gonna get out now, and then it’s going to be everywhere. It’s going to look ridiculous. It’s going to be crazy.”
As the crowd chanted ‘replay replay’ Auger-Aliassime tried in vain to persuade the umpire to come back on his call. But he refused to go quietly, then calling the match supervisor onto the court for further discussions.
During the extraordinary scenes, Draper himself got agitated as he got stick from spectators. “I might look like an idiot now because people say I’m not being fair,” he said. “But I was looking at him.”
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