Novak Djokovic has publicly condemned the absence of video replay technology in tennis after a contentious decision during the Cincinnati Masters final between Jack Draper and Felix Auger-Aliassime. The 24-time Grand Slam champion took to social media to express his frustration over the incident, which saw Draper declared the winner despite a dubious point that appeared to involve the ball hitting Draper’s racquet and the ground before crossing the net.
The decision, upheld by the chair umpire despite Auger-Aliassime’s protests, has sparked widespread debate within the tennis community. Djokovic, who did not participate in the tournament, labeled the situation as “embarrassing” and criticized the lack of a system that would allow for such calls to be reviewed and corrected.
“It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay of these kinds of situations on the court,” Djokovic wrote. “What’s even more ridiculous is that we don’t have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court! Everyone who watches TV sees what happened on the replay, yet the players on the court are kept in the ‘dark’ not knowing what’s the outcome.”
Djokovic emphasized the need for modernization in tennis, pointing out that other sports have long integrated video technology to prevent such controversies. “We have Hawkeye for line calls; we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please, respective Tours, make sure this nonsense never happens again!” he urged.
The incident has reignited the debate over the use of video replay in tennis, with many calling for its broader implementation in all tour events, not just Grand Slams like the US Open. American tennis star Coco Gauff also recently advocated for the introduction of video review systems after a contentious line call contributed to her elimination from the Paris Olympics at Roland Garros.
The growing chorus of players demanding video technology reflects the increasing pressure on tennis authorities to modernize and ensure fair play across all levels of the sport.
