CNN
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Iga Świątek has made it to this year’s semi-finals. Australian Open After defeating American star Emma Navarro on Tuesday, but the match was not without its controversy.
While Świątek won 6-1, 6-2, a double bounce call at the end of the second set sparked further debate about how tennis uses its video technology.
The incident occurred in the fifth game of the second set, when Świątek ran to the net to try to return a drop shot. Despite her best efforts, the world No.2 couldn’t get there in time, bouncing the ball twice before returning it to her opponent.
However, the double bounce was not called by the umpire so Navarro played and lost the point. Because she did not stop immediately to challenge the call, she was unable to ask video technology to review the decision.
“It happened very quickly,” Navarro told reporters afterward, without blaming anyone for the decision.
“You hit a shot, and she hits it back and you’re just like, ‘Oh, I think I’m playing’. In the back of your head you’re like, ‘Well, maybe I Can still win the point even though it wasn’t called.’
If I stop the point and it turns out it wasn’t a double bounce, that’s hard. I think we should be able to see it later and make that call.
While disappointing, the point likely had little bearing on the match with Świątek. In this year’s semi-finals, she is now the only woman yet to drop a set in the tournament.
Speaking about the double-bounce call, Świątek said he wasn’t sure what had happened.
“Honestly, I didn’t watch the replay after that point because, after the point, I didn’t look at the screens because I wanted to stay focused and didn’t want that point to stay in my head for too long. Ka,” the five-time Grand Slam winner told reporters.
“I wasn’t sure if it was a double bounce or if I hit it with my frame. It’s hard to say because I was full on sprinting.
Świątek will now play American Madison Keys in the semifinals on Thursday.
Keys earlier on Tuesday defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to set up her third semi-final at the tournament – a decade after her first appearance on the stage in Melbourne.
“Being here again in the semi-finals after 10 years, I’m really proud of myself and I’m excited to play another semi-final here in Melbourne,” Keys, 29, said after his win.
Keys has never reached an Australian Open final, though, and it will take something special to beat Świątek, who has dominated the women’s draw this year.
