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A contentious double-bounce incident during the Australian Open quarter-final between Iga Swiatek and Emma Navarro has reignited discussions about the use of video technology in tennis.
The incident occurred with Navarro trailing 6-1, 2-2, A-40. A ball bounced twice in front of Swiatek before the Polish player stretched to hit it, but the umpire did not call it. Navarro, instead of stopping play, continued the rally and lost the point. Swiatek went on to claim a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory.
This year, the Australian Open introduced a video review system, but it can only be used for point-ending calls or when a player stops play to challenge a decision. As Navarro did not halt play, she was unable to contest the call.
After the match, Navarro acknowledged the incident but downplayed its impact, stating it did not "cause a momentum swing." However, she emphasized the need for changes in how the system operates.
"I think we should be able to review it afterward," Navarro said. "It all happens so fast. You think, 'Maybe I can still win the point even if it wasn't called.' But if you stop and it turns out it wasn't a double bounce, it's frustrating. It's tough."
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, said she was unsure whether it was a double bounce and noted she relied on the umpire to make the call.
"I was full sprinting and didn't even see the contact point," Swiatek explained. "Sometimes you don't really look when you hit the ball. I thought it was the umpire's job to call it, and I waited for VAR, but when it didn't happen, I just played on."
The Australian Open is only the second major tournament to implement video reviews, following the 2023 US Open, which introduced replays for double-bounce decisions. The system has also been trialed at the ATP Finals and Next Gen Finals.
Later on the same day, the video review system was used successfully in the men's quarter-final between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Sonego. Sonego stopped play, believing there was a double bounce, and his challenge was upheld by the umpire after reviewing the footage.
The contrasting incidents highlight the limitations of the current system and have fueled calls for broader use of video technology in tennis to address such controversies.
