'A review if you hit the fence?': Ball kid sparks bizarre VAR replay at Dubai Championships
A bizarre video replay involving a ball-kid highlighted a strange sequence of play between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik in Dubai.
A quick-thinking Auger-Aliassime called for a replay in the first-set tiebreak when he tried to get to the ball but felt he was impeded by the ball person.
Auger-Aliassime became tangled up with the official when he attempted to play a smash from Bublik at the back of the court.
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The umpire asked for a review much to Bublik's chagrin - who argued the Canadian world No.6 collided with the back wall and not the ball kid.
The Canadian pleaded with the umpire to replay the point. Eurosport
"Is it a review if you hit the fence?" Bublik asked.
Auger-Aliassime pointed out that the ball kid had "moved into it" before he had a chance to attempt the return.
"The fence is not moving, he moves into my way," Auger-Aliassime responded.
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The video review confirmed Auger-Aliassime's assessment, and forced a replay of the point.
But Bublik was clearly peeved over the call and pulled out an underarm serve the very next point to win back the one he lost.
Bublik after his underarm serve. Eurosport
The crowd backed him all the way - clapping for the Kazakhstan player as he soaked up the applause and raised his arms as if he'd just taken match point.
But he was far from it as Auger-Aliassime hit back to take the tiebreak 7-6 (9-7), placing his hand at his ear demanding the crowd to cheer louder for him after claiming the first frame.
The Canadian ended up taking the first-round match in three sets, and will take on world No38 Nuno Borges in the next round.
