Emma Navarro believes changes should be made to rules involving video replays at the Australian Open after she controversially lost a point despite the ball bouncing twice on the other side of the net.
The world No.8 lost in straight sets to Iga Swiatek during the quarter-finals on Wednesday. In the second frame of their match at 2-2, Navarro believed she had won the point after the ball bounced twice on Swiatek’s side of the net during one rally. However, the double bounce wasn’t spotted by umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore and Navarro wasn’t allowed to request a replay afterwards which would have proven her right. Players are only allowed to challenge such calls if they stop playing right away. A rule that has drawn criticism from Navarro.
“It should be allowed to see after the point even if you play,” she told reporters after the match.
“It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you’re just, ‘Oh, I guess I’m playing’.
“In the back of your head you’re, like, ‘Okay, maybe I can still win the point even though it wasn’t called’.
“It’s going to be a downer if I stop the point and it turns out it wasn’t a double bounce. It’s tough.
“We should be able to see it afterwards and make that call.”
It is not the first time the use of Video Action Replays (VAR) in tennis has been debated. Coco Gauff has previously called for the system to be in place at the French Open after a line call went against her at last year’s tournament. Meanwhile, during the 2024 Cincinnati Masters, there were calls for video replays to be implemented after Jack Draper won his match point against Felix Auger-Aliassime by seemingly hitting his volley into the ground beforehand.
However, video replays are in use at the Australian Open but Navarro believes players should be allowed to review points after rallies end regardless of if they stop play or not.
Commenting on the incident during her press conference, Swiatek said she ‘doesn’t remember seeing the contact point.‘ When asked if she agreed with Navarro’s view that there should be changes to the rules, the Pole gave a diplomatic response.
“They already had a lot of time to think it through. So if there would be some better option, I think tennis would use it,” she said.
“We already had some tense situations in other matches and also ATP last year. The referees think about it. It’s their job to make the proper rules.”
Swiatek will play Madison Keys in the semi-finals later this week.