Rising American tennis star Emma Navarro is advocating for expanded use of video review in professional tennis after a pivotal missed call in her Australian Open quarterfinal match against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. The controversial point occurred with the score tied 2-2 in the first set, when Swiatek failed to reach a drop shot from Navarro before it bounced twice. The umpire did not make the call, and Swiatek went on to win the point and eventually the match 6-1, 6-2.
“I don’t feel like it was a huge momentum swing, but obviously the score says otherwise,” Navarro said after the match. “I was definitely able to reset, but maybe it bled into one point. I told myself it’s in the past, can’t linger on it.”
Call for Expanded Replay
While a chair umpire can currently be asked to review a call, it has to happen during the point, which Navarro did not do in the heat of the moment as she tried to continue the rally. After seeing a replay confirming the missed call on the changeover, Navarro asked the umpire about it.
I asked her after the point if I could see a replay, and she said I played it, so I couldn’t see it.
– Emma Navarro
Navarro believes the rules should be changed to allow players to challenge calls and access video review even after a point has been played out. She argues it’s unrealistic to expect them to always stop play in the intense, split-second moments of high-stakes matches.
“It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you’re just like, ‘Oh, I guess I’m playing,'” Navarro explained. “In the back of your head, you’re like, ‘OK, 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.”
Push for Progress
While video replay and player challenges have become increasingly common in tennis, there are still limitations. Hawk-Eye electronic line calling is used on the main show courts at Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events, but most other matches still rely solely on human officiating. The specifics of when players can challenge calls also vary by tournament.
Navarro’s experience highlights some of the gaps that still exist when it comes to ensuring fair, accurate officiating. Her call for expanded video review could gain traction as tennis continues to embrace and refine its use of instant replay technology. Other sports have had to adapt their rules and processes over time as video review capabilities have advanced.
Additional Perspectives
For her part, Swiatek said she was unaware the ball had double bounced during the point in question. “I didn’t see the replay because I wanted to stay focused,” the five-time major champion explained. “It was hard to say because I was full sprinting.”
Still, Navarro’s public comments advocating for change, coming after such a high-profile missed call on one of the sport’s biggest stages, are likely to reignite the conversation around how much latitude players should have to challenge rulings and access video replay. Her Australian Open run may have ended in disappointment, but Navarro could help spur reforms to make tennis officiating more fair and transparent moving forward.
Key Takeaways
- Emma Navarro is advocating for tennis to allow players to challenge calls and access video review even after a point has been played out
- Her push comes after a controversial missed double bounce call against Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open that Navarro was unable to challenge
- While tennis has expanded its use of video replay in recent years, there are still limitations and inconsistencies in the current system
- Navarro’s experience could bring renewed attention to the topic and spur reforms to make tennis officiating more accurate and transparent
