'Technical issue' hijacks first point of United Cup as players, umpire left bemused

The first technical failure of 2026 has officially taken place on Australian soil, with the opening serve of Jaume Munar and Sebastian Baez's United Cup match interrupted.

Spain's Munar was ready to open the first match of the group stage in Perth against Argentina when his serve was called as being out by the electronic line calling system.

Munar was not convinced by the call as it was announced inside RAC Arena, although it was then repeated twice through the speakers, leaving the chair umpire puzzled.

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"That serve wasn't out," Munar was heard telling umpire Adel Nour.

"So was it a technical (error)?"

Nour halted play as he radioed for support to learn what went wrong with the electronic line-calling system, while both players stood ready at their respective ends of the court.

Munar repeated his own questions to Nour as he worked to learn the answer to the issue, but Argentina's Baez stayed quiet in the shady section of his baseline.

Nour then announced he would conduct a review to see if the call of out was correct.

The Aussie tennis summer kicks off with the 2026 United Cup from Friday, January 2. Watch it live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Australian tennis great John Fitzgerald admitted he agreed with Munar that the ball was definitely within the lines.

"Now there is a question mark on whether the call was correct or not," Fitzgerald said in commentary on Nine.

"My gut feeling is that it was on it. They are double checking."

It did not take long for the final ruling to be announced, with Nour confirming a technical issue had interfered with the first serve and was incorrectly announced.

Munar and Baez returned to their starting positions to replay the point.