Iga Swiatek strongly denies that she was aware that the ball hit the court twice during the Australian Open double bounce controversy and she underlines that it is “the umpire’s job to call it.”
During a rally in the fifth game of the second set, Emma Navarro went for a drop shot and it appeared to hit the surface twice.
But since chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore remained silent and the point ended with the Pole passing the American at the net, the No. 2 seed sealed the game to go 6-1 3-2 up in their quarterfinal match.
Iga Swiatek double bounce © X screenshot
While the world No. 8 asked for VAR to check whether it was a double bounce case, her request was denied after the umpire told her it would be only possible if she instantly stopped the point.
In the rest of the match, Navarro didn’t win a single game as Swiatek won 6-1 6-2.
While many blamed Asderaki-Moore for missing a blatant double bounce call, the Polish star also drew some criticism and backlash, with some arguing that she must have known that it was a double bounce but just opted not to say anything.
Swiatek: I wasn’t sure if it was a double bounce, I was fully sprinting
“I didn’t see the replay because after the point, I didn’t look up at the screens because I wanted to stay focused and didn’t want this point to stay in my head for a longer period of time,” the 23-year-old explained.
“I wasn’t sure if it was a double-bounce, or I hit it with my frame. It was hard to say because I was fully sprinting. I don’t remember even seeing the contact point. Sometimes you don’t really look when you hit the ball.
“I wasn’t sure. I thought this was the umpire’s job to call it. I was also waiting for the VAR, but I didn’t see it, so I just kind of proceeded.”
Navarro also defended Swiatek in her post-match presser, saying that she wasn’t blaming the Pole for anything and noting that umpires are there to make the calls.
Tennis World USA