bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749 
|
Tennis
Jan 12, 2023 20:35:59 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 12, 2023 20:35:59 GMT
Australian Open draw: Jack Draper to play Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray faces Matteo Berrettini..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1B69/production/_128271070_draper.jpgDraper has climbed into the world's top 40 after being ranked outside the top 250 a year ago
Rising British star Jack Draper will play top seed Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open first round, with Andy Murray also handed a difficult draw. Murray faces 13th seed Matteo Berrettini, while Novak Djokovic makes his Melbourne return against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena. Emma Raducanu, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, has been drawn against Germany's Tamara Korpatsch. Raducanu, 20, could face seventh seed Coco Gauff in the second round. After learning of his first-round meeting with 2022 winner Nadal, Draper said it would be "amazing to play on court with him". "He's a great champion," the 21-year-old added. "Whatever happens, it will be a special occasion for me. "I'm still very young in my career so it's great to have these sort of experiences and exposure to playing someone like Rafa on a big court like that. "But I want to play really well and I want to compete hard and do the best I can." The Australian Open, which is the first Grand Slam tournament of the new season, takes place at Melbourne Park between 16th and 29th January. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/125D1/production/_128271257_gettyimages-1420223499.jpgAndy Murray (left) was beaten by Matteo Berrettini (right) in the third round of last year's US Openichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/173F1/production/_128271259_gettyimages-1454339837.jpgEmma Raducanu said this week she is trying "not to expect too much" but is hoping to be fit for the tournament
Raducanu, who shocked the world by winning the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier, suffered what she described as more bad luck when she rolled an ankle in Auckland last week. It led to doubts over whether she would be fit to play in Melbourne, but she has been practising on court in the past few days with her movement seemingly improving with each session. Raducanu is ranked one place below Korspatch at 75th in the world, but the 27-year-old German has never won a main-draw match at a major. Cameron Norrie, Britain's highest ranked player and the 11th seed, starts against French wildcard Luca van Assche, while 25th seed Dan Evans faces Argentina's Facundo Bagnis. Another difficult challenge for a British player saw Kyle Edmund - a semi-finalist in 2018 but on the comeback trail after three knee surgeries - pitted against Italian 15th seed Jannik Sinner. Harriet Dart, the only other Briton in the women's draw, starts against Swiss 32nd seed Jil Teichmann.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 14, 2023 10:54:20 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2023 10:54:20 GMT
Australian Open: Emma Raducanu ready to play in Melbourne after ankle injury..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/4EBF/production/_128295102_raducanu.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/1F7A/production/_128285080_raducanu.jpgEmma Raducanu says she "fully trusts" the ankle injury that threatened her participation at the Australian Open. The 20-year-old Briton rolled her left ankle in Auckland nine days ago, but says she is ready to play in Melbourne. Raducanu, ranked 75th in the world, faces Germany's Tamara Korpatsch in the first round on Monday. "I've been able to do preparation, albeit more limited than usual. But I'm feeling in a good place to go out there and give it my best shot," she said. Raducanu, who stunned the world by winning the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier, has been hoping to put behind her the injury problems that marred her first full year on the WTA Tour. But, after a two-month fitness block designed to build up her body for the rigours of the season, her preparations for Melbourne were hampered when she suffered what she described as an "accident" she could not avoid. It came in only her second match of the year, when she played Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova in Auckland, and left her in tears when she left court. Raducanu's mobility during practice at Melbourne Park this week initially looked difficult but by Thursday - when the tournament draw was made - she was moving freely and looked in good enough shape to play. "We were thrown a bit of a curveball but we remained optimistic," she said in her news conference on Saturday. "It's been a team effort to get me to this place. We've been building it up pretty gradually. "For the ankle, I feel really good. It's going to be more introducing certain things, and the rate at which we've had to do it has been really quick. "But I've not really played much tennis ever in my career so I'm kind of used to it. And I'm not stressed about lack of tennis that much."
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 14, 2023 19:54:00 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2023 19:54:00 GMT
Emma Raducanu: Core team taking shape for British number one after coaching dilemma..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/11D6D/production/_128296037_emmaraducanu-2.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/8BAF/production/_128295753_cef439e09a5d6cc64a467dc1ebd88a6d0d0aa6e4.jpgWhen Emma Raducanu took a stroll along Elwood Beach last Monday, she will have been very mindful of her footing. The 2021 US Open champion was nursing a tender left ankle, which she had turned on a slick indoor court in Auckland four days previously. It led to her sixth retirement since the start of last year, threatened her participation in the Australian Open, and punctured the optimism she had been feeling about the new year. "We were thrown a bit of a curveball the first week," was the way Raducanu put it. But the ankle has healed, and even if preparation for this particular Grand Slam has been a little thin, the optimism has returned, too. A core team is gradually taking shape. Sebastian Sachs is in position as the coach, Jez Green's strength and conditioning expertise is bearing fruit, and physio Will Herbert is an increasingly frequent presence on tour. Raducanu's run of coaches has been well documented, but the word over the past few months is that she really is very keen to develop a long-term partnership with one of them. Dmitry Tursunov decided in October he was not that man, warning - in an interview with tennismajors.com - that Raducanu was consulting too wide a range of voices.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 16, 2023 2:01:58 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 16, 2023 2:01:58 GMT
Australian Open 1st Day British Results..
Emma Raducanu beat Tamara Korpatsch - 6-3, 6-2.
Kyle Edmund lost to Jannik Sinner - 4-6, 0-6, 2-6.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 16, 2023 8:43:12 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 16, 2023 8:43:12 GMT
Australian Open 1st Day British Results..
Emma Raducanu beat Tamara Korpatsch - 6-3, 6-2.ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1789A/production/_128301469_raducanu.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/1/16/03877091-3935-4480-9ed0-cfff2801f153.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/12A7A/production/_128301467_raducanu.jpgEmma Raducanu made a positive return to court after her injury scare, moving into the second round of the Australian Open with a straight-set win. On the opening day in Melbourne, the British number one won 6-3 6-2 against Germany's Tamara Korpatsch. Raducanu, 20, rolled her ankle in Auckland 11 days ago and a beaming smile after sealing victory showed her joy at coming through her first test. The world number 77 now faces American seventh seed Coco Gauff in round two. Gauff, 18, is among the favourites to win the women's singles at Melbourne Park and started with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Czech opponent Katerina Siniakova. Kyle Edmund lost to Jannik Sinner - 4-6, 0-6, 2-6.Britain's Kyle Edmund was also knocked out on the opening day at Melbourne Park with a 6-4 6-0 6-2 defeat by Italian 15th seed Jannik Sinner. Edmund, 28, reached the semi-finals in 2018 but is trying to rebuild his career after a knee injury which needed three operations before he returned to the tour last year. Playing using a protected ranking, it was another tough draw at a Grand Slam for Edmund after he faced eventual runner-up Casper Ruud at last year's US Open.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 16, 2023 8:48:24 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 16, 2023 8:48:24 GMT
Australian Open 1st Day British Results..
Australian Open: Jack Draper loses to Rafael Nadal at Melbourne Park..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/5BB8/production/_128308432_draper.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/A9D8/production/_128308434_nadal.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/6B4E/production/_128307472_draper_nadal.jpgBritish rising star Jack Draper tested Spain's Rafael Nadal before physical issues cost him in a four-set loss in the Australian Open first round. Draper, 21, levelled at one-set each, leading to 22-time major champion Nadal, 36, having a frank discussion with his team before the third set. Top seed Nadal led 4-1 but was still unconvincing as Draper broke back before the Briton lost serve at 5-4. Draper struggled to move in the fourth as Nadal secured a 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-1 win. For a good while on Rod Laver Arena it looked as though Draper could cause a stunning upset against a player he described as one of his "heroes". His ball-striking caused problems for Nadal throughout, but the physical issues which have dogged the left-hander's burgeoning career returned. This time, he struggled with what appeared to be cramp and needed treatment from the physio in the third set. By the latter stages of the fourth, Draper - who has risen to 38th in the world after being outside the top 250 last year - was unable to push off on serve.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 16, 2023 11:37:24 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 16, 2023 11:37:24 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 16, 2023 11:46:09 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 16, 2023 11:46:09 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 16, 2023 20:36:04 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 16, 2023 20:36:04 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 17, 2023 8:54:39 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 17, 2023 8:54:39 GMT
Australian Open 2023 results: Andy Murray stuns Matteo Berrettini..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/A2DB/production/_128319614_gettyimages-1456990198.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/976/cpsprodpb/16244/production/_128329609_guardian.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/2897/production/_128319301_gettyimages-1456970353.jpgBritain's Andy Murray produced one of his best performances in recent years to hold off Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini and win a five-set thriller in the Australian Open first round. The 35-year-old Scot looked stunned after completing a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-6) win on Rod Laver Arena. Murray, who thought hip surgery in 2019 would end his career, saved a match point at 5-4 in the decider. It was Murray's first victory over a top-20 opponent at a Grand Slam since 2017. After racing 6-1 ahead in the first-to-10 final-set tie-break, Murray secured victory with a forehand which took a huge chunk of the net cord and left Berrettini stranded. The three-time major champion will play Italian veteran Fabio Fognini or Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round on Thursday. "I will be feeling it this evening and tomorrow but right now I'm unbelievably happy and proud of myself," said Murray, a five-time runner-up in Melbourne. "I've been working to give myself the opportunity to perform in matches like this and against players like Matteo. It paid off tonight. "I was a bit lucky at the end with the net cord, but it felt like some of the tennis was really good. "He's an unbelievable player and one of the best competitors."
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 17, 2023 8:57:55 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 17, 2023 8:57:55 GMT
Australian Open 2023 results: Dan Evans beats Facundo Bagnis..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/15CCB/production/_128319298_gettyimages-1456930654.jpgEvans beat Bagnis in the first round when he reached the Melbourne last 16 in 2017 - a career-best run in Melbourne The Englishman, seeded 25th, won 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 in a first-round match that was delayed for three hours because of extreme heat in Melbourne. Evans, 32, will play French veteran Jeremy Chardy next. The British number two had moved into a two-sets-to-one lead when the players were taken off court as temperatures topped 35C at Melbourne Park. Cooler conditions when they returned at 5pm local time - after a three-hour break - helped Evans wrap up a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 win.
|
|
|
|
Tennis
Jan 17, 2023 12:50:38 GMT
via mobile
Post by tbonegas on Jan 17, 2023 12:50:38 GMT
What a win by Sir Andy Murray.
He rolled back the years with that performance.
Berrettini missed a regulation backhand on match point, but Murray's nerve held in the match tie break.
Surprisingly the first 10 point breaker that Murray has ever played.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Post by bluetornados on Jan 17, 2023 14:53:06 GMT
What a win by Sir Andy Murray. He rolled back the years with that performance. Berrettini missed a regulation backhand on match point, but Murray's nerve held in the match tie break. Surprisingly the first 10 point breaker that Murray has ever played. Next up for 32yr old Evans is 35yr old Jeremy Chardy, both have got 1 career title each and both have close to a 50% win rate, will be a good close match. Next up for Mr Murray is 26yr old Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, who has a 43% win rate and has been no further than this 2nd round in Australia. A lot of the big guns have withdrawn from the men and women's draw so it could open up a bit for some shocks to come. |
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 17, 2023 21:35:18 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 17, 2023 21:35:18 GMT
Australian Open 2023: Emma Raducanu faces Coco Gauff & Rafael Nadal also in action on day three..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/94FE/production/_128324183_bbc-sport-index-imagery-2-split-images-gradient-912d51c9-8c21-47c7-abdf-77c5e441c0df.pngBritain's Emma Raducanu and American teenager Coco Gauff will meet for the first time in an eagerly anticipated second-round match on day three at the Australian Open. Raducanu, 20, and the 18-year-old world number seven Gauff will headline the night session on Rod Laver Arena from 08:00 GMT on Wednesday. "It's going to be a great match," said 2021 US Open champion Raducanu. "Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and she's playing well." She added: "I think we're both good, young players. We're both coming through, part of the next generation of tennis, really." British men's number one Cameron Norrie will take on Constant Lestienne after defeating another Frenchman, Luca van Assche, in straight sets on Monday. Women's world number one Iga Swiatek will open play on Rod Laver Arena against Colombian Camila Osorio, with defending champion and men's top seed Rafael Nadal facing American Mackenzie McDonald later in the day. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/6FC4/production/_128321682_-bf1e73be-ce05-415c-a3ae-a0ff3544ecc9.pngGauff, considered among the favourites for the tournament, began her Australian Open with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Czech Katerina Siniakova, while Raducanu beat German Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 6-2. Aged 15, Gauff became the youngest female to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon in 2019 - the same tournament where, in 2021, an 18-year-old Raducanu announced herself with a run to the fourth round. Raducanu stunned the sport with her triumph at the US Open in just her second Grand Slam appearance while Gauff, already established on the WTA Tour, reached her first major final at the French Open last year. "I talk to her pretty much at all the tournaments," Gauff said of Raducanu. "I didn't really know her that well in juniors, but I've got to talk to her more on tour now. "Obviously she's gone through a lot of pressure, bursting on to the scene. I feel like probably more than I have experienced coming to win a Slam. "And especially I feel like being from the UK, being the first British person to do something in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I'm used to, being an American."
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 18, 2023 8:46:32 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2023 8:46:32 GMT
Australian Open 2023: Injured Rafael Nadal loses to Mackenzie McDonald..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/55FD/production/_128331022_gettyimages-1457278537.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/CCBD/production/_128331425_nadal_gettytwo.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/183F1/production/_128331399_110c3235b48291485f370851968ed17b7aa8be10.jpgRafael Nadal's Australian Open title defence is over after a second-round defeat by American Mackenzie McDonald in which he struggled with an injury. The Spaniard, 36, was trailing by a set and a break when he pulled up with what appeared to be a hip problem. He took a medical timeout towards the end of the second set and continued with the match, but ultimately slipped to a 6-4 6-3 7-5 defeat. It is Nadal's earliest exit at the Australian Open since 2016. It was a cruel end for Nadal after his stunning 2022, where he came back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in last year's final in Melbourne and won a record-extending 14th French Open crown in June. However, a typically battling display in the Wimbledon quarter-finals led to him picking up an abdominal injury that hampered him for the rest of the season. He arrived in Melbourne having lost his only two singles matches of the season and never looked fully comfortable before he seemed to jar his hip against McDonald. Nadal's wife was left in tears and his support team also looked emotional in the player box as the two-time champion struggled to move on Rod Laver Arena. After seeing the match through to the end he left to a standing ovation from the crowd, with top seed Nadal turning to wave to each corner before exiting the stadium.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 18, 2023 9:14:11 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2023 9:14:11 GMT
Australian Open 2023: Rain hits schedule in Melbourne..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/3D57/production/_128330751_gettyimages-1457265869.jpgPlay on the outside courts at the Australian Open was delayed by six hours because of rain as weather disrupted the schedule for a second day. The day after extreme heat and rain had led to postponements, further downpours meant there was no play outdoors until 18:20 local time (07:20 GMT). Play has continued on the three courts that have roofs at Melbourne Park. Cameron Norrie is among those scheduled on an outside court on Wednesday. But fellow British number one Emma Raducanu is under the roof on Rod Laver Arena against Coco Gauff (08:00 GMT). British doubles player Jamie Murray, who had been due to open his campaign alongside Michael Venus on Wednesday, was among those to have his match pushed back to Thursday. He had earlier said it was "unfair" to players that the schedule had been released so late, saying that Wednesday's was published at 11.30pm on Tuesday, with players having to arrive at 8-8.30am for an 11am start. "Just start matches later and give players more rest/prep time," he tweeted. "You have lights!"
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 18, 2023 11:27:44 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2023 11:27:44 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 18, 2023 14:27:17 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2023 14:27:17 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 18, 2023 14:30:37 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 18, 2023 14:30:37 GMT
Australian Open 2023: 'I've never seen it before' - players critical of tennis balls..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/A035/production/_128331014_gettyimages-1457262226.jpgMen's 6th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime raised the quality of the tennis balls to the chair umpire during his match against Alex Molcan
They're too "fluffy", they lose their "pop" and are generally slowing things down. Players have been making their feelings known about the quality of tennis balls on offer at this year's Australian Open - and the reviews have not been kind. "The longer you play, the more rallies you play, the fluffier or the bigger the ball becomes and it's slower," record nine-time men's champion Novak Djokovic said following his opening win over Roberto Carballes Baena. Djokovic, now the clear favourite for the men's title following defending champion Rafael Nadal's shock second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald, says he expects longer matches as a result. "The outside courts are pretty quick. The stadium courts are a bit slower. But the ball is slower, so that affects the play," Djokovic said. "One of the biggest reasons will probably be the ball because on the big courts, I don't think the speed of the surface has changed much." Speaking prior to the tournament, men's record 22-time major winner Nadal said he had been told the balls were no different from previous years - but the Spaniard was not convinced. "The ball is worse quality, without a doubt," Nadal said. "I think it's a ball that doesn't get the same spin as usual. After a couple of hits, the ball loses the pressure. It's more difficult to hit with the right spin." 6th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime became the latest player to voice his discontent on Wednesday. The 22-year-old, who fought back from two sets down against Alex Molcan, spoke to the umpire about the state of the balls early in the third set. "I don't want to complain about it, but the balls are not bouncing," Auger-Aliassime said. "I've never seen it before." The 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, who lost in the first round against Molcan, echoed Nadal's comments that something has changed. "The balls are a bit different this year, it is true," Wawrinka said. "I have already tested them and it is true there is a big difference after you have used them for a few games than when they are new. They lose a lot of pop and it is completely different." If the criticism is accurate, imagine the state of the ball used in the dizzying 70-shot rally between Karen Khachanov and Jason Kubler on day three. Russian 18th seed Khachanov and Australian Jason Kubler exchanged shots for 90 seconds before Kubler clipped the net cord with a backhand and the ball dropped on to the other side of the court. Kubler said he watched the rally back after the match, adding: "It was awesome that I ended up winning it. I was super pumped. "I don't think I've ever had a rally that long before. I'm definitely going to be sharing it on my Instagram."
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,749
|
Tennis
Jan 19, 2023 8:54:06 GMT
Post by bluetornados on Jan 19, 2023 8:54:06 GMT
Australian Open 2023 results: Dan Evans beats a fuming Jeremy Chardy in Melbourne..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/699A/production/_128343072_evans.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/B3EF/production/_128336064_evans.pngBritain's Dan Evans raced through to the Australian Open third round, helped by winning a bizarre point that left his opponent Jeremy Chardy fuming. Evans won 6-4 6-4 6-1 but the French veteran was unhappy the umpire did not call let on break point in the first set when a ball fell out of his pocket. Evans, 32, took the pivotal break when Chardy hit into the net and went on to wrap up victory in less than two hours. "I'm not sure how much he believed in his argument," said 25th seed Evans. Evans put the drama behind him in a confident performance that teed up a third-round match against Russian 5th seed Andrey Rublev. "You never go out there looking for a fast one but once I got on top it was important to stay on top and take care of the third set," said Evans, whose best run in Melbourne came in 2017 when he reached the fourth round. "I let three break points go in the first game of the third set but in the end I did a good job." Evans is the second British player to reach the Australian Open third round this year, with Cameron Norrie going through on Wednesday and Andy Murray hoping to join them by beating Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis later on Thursday. Why was Chardy furious and what is the rule?
After hitting into the net with the shot after the ball fell out of his pocket, Chardy appealed to chair umpire Miriam Bley for the point to be replayed. When a ball falls out of a player's pocket it can be classed as hindrance and a let - which means the point is restarted - would be called. Chardy felt he had been hindered but the tournament rules say a player cannot be deemed to hinder themselves. Therefore, the umpire could only call hindrance - and replay the point - if she thought that the loose ball was hindering Evans not Chardy. Evans said he did not see the ball come out of Chardy's pocket. But Chardy, 35, called it the "biggest mistake of the Australian Open" and accused the umpire of "watching the birds" instead of the play. There was a long delay while Chardy challenged the decision and, after he was told to play on, his remonstrations continued for the next couple of games. Evans had little sympathy for his opponent, although he conceded allowing a let for a ball dropping out of a player's pocket was the "worst rule ever". "I know Jeremy relatively well, so I didn't really want it to sour the match. It was a good competitive match," he said. "But if that was me and I really believed in it I would have been more forceful in my arguments. "The only bad job the umpire did was letting it drag on and not getting us back out there to play."
|
|
