British star Cameron Norrie copped loud boos from the crowd after he was controversially awarded a break point despite a drop shot from Lucas Pouille supposedly bouncing twice.
The moment in question took place in the fourth game of the third set with Pouille on serve and the score locked at 30-30.
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Poullie had Norrie on the run and decided to hit a cheeky drop shot to force the Brit to get his legs moving.
Norrie managed to get to the ball in time, but to Pouille and many tennis fans in the crowd at Roland Garros, it seemed the Brit hit his shot after the ball had bounced twice.
However, the umpire also did not see the double bounce as the point continued to play out, which Norrie went on to win.
Boos rang out across the court as Pouille pleaded his case to the umpire, who remained unmoved.
The Frenchman then went to lose the game, handing Norrie the advantage as he went on to win 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
Eurosport commentators Paul Hand and Yasmin Clarke were left stunned at the umpire’s error.
“Oh wow, that’s a real misjudgement there from the umpire,” Clarke said.
“That was cleary a double bounce. Lucas Pouille just stopped.”
Hand added: “Understandably, there’s a sense of aggrievement from the French. But to be fair to Norrie, when you’re sprinting flat out, it’s difficult to see. He would have just lunged at that and assume perhaps that he made it.”
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DJOKOVIC DOUBLES DOWN ON CONTROVERSIAL KOSOVO CLAIM
Novak Djokovic on Wednesday said “it’s what I stand for” regarding the controversy over his comments about clashes in Kosovo earlier this week at the French Open.
On Monday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence” on a TV camera after his first match at Roland Garros.
“I could repeat it, but I won’t. A lot of people disagree, but for me, it’s what I stand for,” he said after making the third round on Wednesday with a straights sets win over Marton Fucsovics.
Djokovic also refused to respond to criticism of his message from French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera earlier Wednesday.
Oudea-Castera said the Serb’s comment was “very activist” and that Djokovic “shouldn’t get involved”.
But the International Tennis Federation said there was “no provision” in Grand Slam rules “that prohibits political statements”.
Djokovic, who is chasing a men’s record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, came through a marathon first set against Hungarian Marton Fucsovics before prevailing 7-6 (7/2), 6-0, 6-3 in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The Serbian also shared a quote from the late Kobe Bryant to encapsulate his thoughts when it came to receiving negative messages on social media surrounding his political stance.
Djokovic said: “As Kobe used to say, it’s a great quote: ‘Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.’”
KOKKINAKIS OUSTS WAWRINKA IN FIVE-SET THRILLER
Thanasi Kokkinakis knocked 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka out of the French Open on Wednesday in a five-set rollercoaster to book a third round place at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015.
Australian world number 108 Kokkinakis came through 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in four hours and 38 minutes against the 2015 champion.
Kokkinakis, who described Wawrinka, a three-time major winner, as a “legend” of the sport, last made the third round of a Slam in Paris eight years ago when he was just 19.
However, he has been plagued by physical and medical problems with a shoulder injury limiting him to just one singles match from November 2015 until May 2017.
He then missed the entire 2020 season due to mono before undergoing surgery on his sinuses in 2022.
“I’ve had a pretty crazy story. I came on the scene when I was pretty young, looked like I was set for a big future but I went missing for a few years,” he said.
Kokkinakis will take on Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a place in the last 16.
Alcaraz overcame a second-set blip to blow away Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and set up a tie with Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov.
The 20-year-old is bidding to add the Roland Garros title to the US Open he won in 2022.
He has already enjoyed a fine clay-court season, winning both the Barcelona and Madrid Opens.
Stefanos Tsitsipas cruised into the third round with a straight-sets win over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
The Greek fifth seed, the runner-up to Djokovic in 2021, claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
“I am very much in when it comes to breaking records,” said Tsitsipas after notching his 20th win at the French Open.
“I get excited when I see personal records being kind of set and broken.”
Tsitsipas will next face Argentinian Diego Schwartzman for a place in the second week.