Australian Open quarter-finalist Emma Navarro wants tennis authorities to change their video review policy following a controversial shot during her loss to world No.2 Iga Swiatek on Wednesday.
Navarro was unable to review what appeared to be a double bounce during play because she continued to contest the point.
Iga Swiatek was in ominous form against US star Emma Navarro.Credit: AP
Despite discussions with the chair umpire, the American couldn’t request a video assistant referee (VAR) review because the rules state she had to stop play and challenge immediately.
“I didn’t stop playing. I played the next shot, so I couldn’t see a replay,” Navarro said. “It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you’re just like, ‘Oh, I guess I’m playing’.
“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. I think we should be able to see it afterwards and make that call.”
She also echoed Alexander Zverev’s criticisms of tournament organisers over the lack of a let machine at the Australian Open. Chair umpires at this year’s tournament make let calls themselves, unlike at other professional tournaments, where they utilise available technology.
“I don’t know why that decision was made… I don’t see a reason to not use a let machine,” Navarro said.
Australian Open officials defended their use of umpires to make the call, saying it had worked elsewhere.
“Chair umpires calling lets has worked well at major events around the world, including Roland-Garros, Davis Cup and the Olympics, and we have confidence in the process,” tournament referee Wayne McKewen said.
But realistically, umpiring decisions aren’t what cost Navarro a semi-final spot. Swiatek won convincingly, 6-1, 6-2. The Polish star is yet to drop a set at this tournament, and has only conceded 14 games so far.
Swiatek will play American Madison Keys in one of Thursday’s semi-final matches. Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa will battle for the other final spot.
Keys defeated Elina Svitolina in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, bouncing back from an initially concerning scoreline in the first set.
“I started a little flat today,” Keys said. “I think that I was trying to be aggressive and set the point up, but I wasn’t necessarily taking advantage of the balls that I was getting.”
“In the second set I just started trying to get to the net a lot more, and take advantage of some of the short balls that I was getting … I feel like I ran with the momentum after that.”
The 29-year-old will now face Swiatek, someone she has beaten only once before. The American is no stranger to the strength of the world No.2.
“She’s a good server. She’s a good returner. She moves incredibly well,” Keys said.
“If you miss your spot just slightly, she has enough time to recover and then the point goes back to neutral … So I think it’s really hard to ever really get ahead in a point.”
Badosa, the world No.12, is playing some of her best tennis following a period plagued by injury. This will mark her first-ever grand slam semi-final appearance and could be the “comeback of the year,” according to Badosa, herself.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka is on her way to a history-making third consecutive women’s singles win. Doing so would put her name on a list alongside the likes of Steffi Graff, Margaret Court and Martina Hingis.
”I’m really happy that I put myself in this situation where I have the opportunity to become one of [the three time winners],” world No.1 Sabalenka said after her victory against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Tuesday.
“To be next to those names, that’s just a dream. Of course, it has always been in the back of my mind that I can do that.
“I know that if I’ll be able to bring my best tennis… if not the best tennis, then the best fighting spirit. I know that I’m capable of doing that.”
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