Alison Riske-Amritraj had a controversy during the first round of the Australian Open, and the reactions in the tennis world were immediate..
The pairing of Riske and Fruhvirtova faced Dzalamidze and Panova, and there was a questionable decision by the chair umpire, which led to a strong claim from the American. The duo of the American and the young Czech had lost the first set 7-6 and found themselves down 3-1 in the second. At that moment the fifth break point was played with Panova serving, Riske hit Dzalamidze from the net and quickly shouted “sorry”. The judge interpreted that she had committed a verbal impediment.
“That make no sense. Dude. Oh, the way you see it? The way you see it? I’m sure you see it that way. That’s ridiculous. That’s absolutely ridiculous. Pay attention. Dude, that’s tennis 101.”
Comments about the situation abounded on social networks, including some tennis figures. First, Brad Gilbert (former trainer of Agassi, Roddick, Murray and others) shared the video on Twitter with a short message: "Wow."
Wow
Tennis chair umpires have a magical way of “not seeing” things. They don’t see double bounces, and apparently they don’t see when a ball hits a player in the middle of a rally. with 752 cameras on the grounds, there’s still no system to help move these things along? #AusOpen2023
Andy Roddick also wanted to give his opinion:
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Tracy Austin former world No. 1 and two-time US Open champion also had words about the moment: “The opponent that got HIT knows it right away because they STOP! Clear indication the knew it hit their body. Why doesn’y chair umpire ask that player?”
The opponent that got HIT knows it right away because they STOP! Clear indication they knew it hit their body. Why doesn’t chair umpire ask that player?
Tennis chair umpires have a magical way of “not seeing” things. They don’t see double bounces, and apparently they don’t see when a ball hits a player in the middle of a rally. with 752 cameras on the grounds, there’s still no system to help move these things along? #AusOpen2023
Montenegrin Danka Kovinic agreed with Riske's claim: “whit electronic line calling, the only thing chair umpire has to do is to be awake during the match!!”
With electronic line calling, the only thing chair umpire has to do is to be awake during the match‼️
Tennis chair umpires have a magical way of “not seeing” things. They don’t see double bounces, and apparently they don’t see when a ball hits a player in the middle of a rally. with 752 cameras on the grounds, there’s still no system to help move these things along? #AusOpen2023
The American herself added to the tweets to express his annoyance, revealing that he had received an apology from the umpire:
She should have called it on herself & the umpire apologized for his incorrect ruling after, which I accepted. Poor sportsmanship and cheating happens all the time, especially at the junior level. Parents/players spend too much time, money & mental energy for that experience. 1/2
Tennis chair umpires have a magical way of “not seeing” things. They don’t see double bounces, and apparently they don’t see when a ball hits a player in the middle of a rally. with 752 cameras on the grounds, there’s still no system to help move these things along? #AusOpen2023
