'That's not right': Chair umpire makes 'big mistake' in Australian Open men's doubles clash
A bizarre umpiring blunder has marred a third round Australian Open men's doubles match.
At set point in a second set tie-breaker in the Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos v Yannick Hanfmann/Dominik Koepfer match on Court 3, Hanfmann's return to a Granollers serve flicked the let cord.
At the net, Zaballos played effectively a half-volley off the let cord, which caused the ball to lob up and over the net.
LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2024 day nine
READ MORE: Star's teary retirement rocks tournament
READ MORE: 'Cheap' de Minaur ribbed amid engagement rumours
Marcel Granollers caught this live ball in he and partner Horacio Zeballos' third round men's doubles match against Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer. Nine
But the ball had so much spin on it that when it cleared the net, it spun back over the net where Ganollers bizarrely caught it.
At the same time, Koepfer's racquet came out of his hand as he lunged forward to try and play the ball on the other side of the net, as he is entitled to do.
The umpire awarded the point in favour of Granollers/Zaballow, which gave them the second set to level the match 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3).
Watch the 2024 Australian Open live and exclusive on Nine, 9Now and ad-free on Stan Sport
Australian Open 2024 in pictures: How Italy celebrated Jannik Sinner's 47-year drought-breaking win
Australian Open 2024 in pictures: How Italy celebrated Jannik Sinner's 47-year drought-breaking win
"Bemused – I don't know what happened there," John Fitzgerald said in commentary before the replays were shown.
"This is not right, this can't be right. It's gone over and Granollers grabs it – that's not set, that's not a point, that's a big mistake by the umpire here."
Fellow commentator Geoff Masters said the umpire needed to be able to see a replay.
"That needs to be replayed somewhere for the chair to see, because that's wrong," he said.
Fitzgerald said he thinks Koepfer's racquet coming over the net might have led the umpire to call interference, but Granollers had already caught the ball.
"So he's interfered with Koepfer having a chance to put that ball away – legally, he can reach over.
"Koepfer is within his rights to go after that, and Granollers stops him"
Luckily for the umpire, Koepfer and Hanfmann won the third set to book their quarter-final spot.
