Alexander Zverev is into the semi-finals in Melbourne (Image: Getty)
Alexander Zverev has branded the decision to get rid of let machines at Grand Slams as “absolutely ridiculous” after returning to the quarter-finals.
The German world No.2 claimed he “stole” the first two sets against No.12 seed Tommy Paul before winning 7-6 7-6 2-6 6-1.
The American won only one point in the two tiebreaks but became enraged in the first set tiebreak when umpire Nacho Forcadelli did not see his serve had clipped the net at 1-4 down.
When the Spaniard told Paul he did not hear it, the American responded: “You are in charge of the lets. If you are not going to hear that one, you are not going to hear any.”
And Zverev later had sympathy with his beaten opponent.
“We had that since the French Open last year that at Grand Slams for some reason we don’t use let machines,” he said. “I think it’s, to be honest, quite ridiculous. Every single corner of everything has a camera. We have video reviews and all the high-end technologies that we can possibly have. But a simple let machine that we’ve been using for the past 25 years is not available at a Grand Slam.
“To be honest, the point that Tommy Paul complained about, it was an incredibly clear let. I didn’t know what to do in that situation. I have to continue playing because if there’s no call and I stop playing, then it’s a loss of point for me.
“In that situation there’s nothing much you can do but to continue playing. But he was absolutely right, you know. It is a clear let call.
Alexander Zverev beat Tommy Paul (Image: Getty)
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“I don’t blame the umpire too much for it, because it is tough to hear, especially if you are sitting higher up. But for me it’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s such a surprise why we don’t have a simple let machine at Grand Slams that we used to have for the past 25 years in tennis.
In his post-match press conference, Paul said: “I was already down, like, 4-1 in the breaker. I think maybe double mini-break. I hit a serve, and it was a let, but the chair didn’t see it. I just didn’t know that there was no automatic — what’s it called — let machine here. It is what it is. That didn’t lose me the match or anything.”
World No.2 Zverev reached his fourth quarter-final to equal the German record set by Boris Becker. The former champion went on to win the title here in 1991 and 1996. Zverev has now won 30 matches here – more than six-time Major winner Becker.
But the 2020 Olympic champion, who has still to win a Slam, said: “I think the big difference in the thing that everybody looks at is Boris Becker lifted this trophy twice. I haven’t yet. So that is, I think, way more important than just match wins. Of course, I’m happy to be on that list, and I’m happy to be in that conversation of greats in German tennis. But yeah, lifting the trophy is what is on my mind.”