In Cincinnati, Electronic Phone Call Fails and Confrontation Follows

Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday August 13, 2024

For the second time in as many weeks, the tournament calling system has made a call and left a player with the wrong result. Last week it was Frances Tiafoewho seemed to have won by a point Alejandro Tabilo in the first set of his match when the match was stopped a call came from the referee’s chair informing him that one of Tabilo’s balls was long.

The call did not happen on the court, it was the program, the referee decided that this point will have to be repeated. Tiafoe lost a point, a set and a match.

Tonight in Cincinnati, in a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) loss in Cincinnati, Taylor Fritz I would have a point of rest against it Brandon Nakashima in the sixth game of the second when Nakashima’s shot goes well for the first distance, but the call misses the plan. When referee Greg Allensworth got word from the booth, he immediately stopped the point and ruled that his point would be replayed.

Obviously that’s the protocol for such situations, but it’s not the right call. Fritz immediately became angry and argued, but he realized that there was no way to change it.

Drama by #CincyTennis 👀

The referee stops the point during the rally between Fritz and Nakashima… pic.twitter.com/00SRdw5NZk

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 14, 2024

After the game, the players took to social media to express their opinions.

Daniel Medvedev again Alex Michelsen he spoke.

“It’s an absurd decision,” Medvedev said.

“The ball was out – why are we giving the point back,” Michelsen said.

Fritz was told by Allensworth that he would have to set up a point to challenge, which is farcical, because players cannot challenge an electronic system.

“Just think you told me I needed to stop a point when we had Hawkeye’s electronic phone,” Fritz told X, before adding, in a sportsmanlike manner: “Side note – I don’t think this changes anything in the game I won the replay of the point so don’t take it as an excuse… I point to the crazy phone.”

pic.twitter.com/e9As9Te3Xm

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 14, 2024

Now that electronic phone errors are happening regularly in court, the ATP should start thinking about making an amendment to its existing phone policy. It can help maintain trust in the system, and that is necessary. The players have spoken, they must be heard.