British tennis player Jack Draper secured a controversial 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the ATP Cincinnati Open quarterfinals on Friday. The decisive moment came on match point, when a questionable line call without the aid of video review technology sparked debate. The situation unfolded at the ATP Masters 1000 event, a major US Open tune-up, as Draper’s racquet connected with the ball simultaneously with a ball appearing to hit the court on his side. While both players expressed willingness to replay the point, officials were unable to make a ruling without video review, a standard feature at major events like Grand Slams. After extended discussions, the point was ultimately allowed to stand, sending Draper into the quarterfinals for the second time at the Masters 1000 level.
Draper acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the controversial call. “I didn’t see what happened,” he stated. “The umpire did not call a double-bounce. As a player, I was focused on what I was doing. If the supervisor had said it was (a double-bounce), I 100% would have repeated the point. It’s not fair to Felix (for me) to win the match that way, and I would have been happy to do the right thing. But I couldn’t make the call myself.” The incident highlights the challenges faced in the absence of video review technology in key moments of matches, leaving the final decision in the hands of officials. The controversy surrounding the call adds another layer to the already intense competition at the Cincinnati Open.
