Emma Navarro has called for a rule change (Image: Getty)
Emma Navarro called for a change in the VAR rules after won a point despite a double bounce – and the American could not challenge because she continued to play the point.
The Polish superstar scooped up the American’s drop shot at 2-2 in the second set and won the game point before going on to win 6-1 6-2.
Navarro complained to Eva Asderaki-Moore but the Greek umpire refused a video review because the world No.8 did not immediately stop play.
The American then protested at the changeover when she saw the replay on the big screen in the Rod Laver Arena. “You did not see that?” she asked Asderaki-Moore
Navarro, the daughter of billionaire Ben Navarro, later explained: “I didn’t stop playing. I played the next shot, so I couldn’t see a replay. Yeah, I asked her after the point if I could see a replay, and she said: ‘I played it’, so I couldn’t see it.
“I think it should be allowed to see after the point even if you play. It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you’re just, like: ‘Oh, I guess I’m playing’.
“In the back of your head you’re, like: ‘Okay, maybe I can still win the point even though it wasn’t called. It’s going to be a downer if I stop the point and it turns out it wasn’t a double bounce’. Yeah, it’s tough. I think we should be able to see it afterwards and make that call.”
Former Aussie pro John Milman told Channel Nine: “She (Swiatek) would be looking at that replay and be disappointed she didn’t give up the point. As a player, you know 99% of the time. Benefit of the doubt for that 1%. But if I knew, I would be conceding the point.
Iga Swiatek dropped just three games as she cruised into the semi-finals (Image: Getty)
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“To expect Navaroo to completely give up on the point, in the moment, I don’t think she should be having to do so.”
Asked if she blamed Swiatek for not calling the offence, Navarro said: “Like I said, it happened so fast. I don’t know if she knew or not. Yeah, ultimately, it’s up to the ref to make the call. It is what it is, I guess. It’s tough to place blame on anybody. It’s a tough call. I think the rules should be different and we should be able to look at it afterwards and decide.”
It is not the first time that Asderaki-Moore – who umpired ’s win over until 12.57am on Wednesday morning – has been involved in controversy during his career.
At the 2011 US Open women’s final between Serena Williams and Sam Stosur, the American told her she was “ugly on the inside” and told her: “Don’t even look my way.”
won a point on match point despite a double bounce against Felix Auger Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open last August. But Lorenzo Sonego successfully made a challenge for a double bounce against Ben Shelton in the second set of their men’s quarter-final today.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek said: “Honestly, I didn’t see the replay after this point because after the point I didn’t look up for the screens because I wanted to stay focused and didn’t want this point to stay in my head for longer period of time.
“I wasn’t sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame. It was hard to say because, like, I was full sprinting. I don’t remember, like, even seeing the contact point. I don’t know. Sometimes you don’t really look when you hit the ball.
“So I wasn’t sure. I thought this is like the umpire’s kind of job to call it. I was also waiting for the VAR, but I didn’t see it, so I just kind of proceeded. I already focused on the next one.”
Asked if the rules should now be changed, the world No.2 said: “Honestly, this is the first time something like that has happened to me, so I’m not sure.”
US Open semi-finalist Navarro refused to blame the incident on her defeat as “ruthless” Swiatek reached the last four here for the loss of only 14 games.
“I don’t feel like it was a huge momentum swing,” she said. :Obviously the score says otherwise. You know, I felt like I moved on, and next game I was ready to play. I thought the next two games I played pretty good. Wasn’t able to convert a couple of points. But you know, I didn’t feel a huge momentum shift.”