Felix Auger-Aliassime fumes after wild match-point ending v Jack Draper in Cincinnati - 'He shanked it onto the floor!'
Updated 17/08/2024 at 10:47 GMT+1
Britain's Jack Draper was caught in the midst of an umpiring controversy in the finale of his round of 16 match with Felix Auger Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open. Draper appeared to miss a volley at the net on match point, but umpire Greg Allensworth awarded the 22-year-old the point, to the disbelief of his opponent and many of the fans in Ohio, sparking a five-minute debate at the net.
Highlights: Draper beats Auger-Aliassime after match point controversy
Video credit: TNT Sports
British number one Jack Draper was involved in a hugely controversial ending to his round of 16 match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open.
Approaching the net on match point, Draper played an awkward-looking volley that landed just over the net, with umpire Greg Allensworth calling the point and subsequent match for the Englishman.
However, Auger-Aliassime was convinced the shot bounced on Draper's side of the court.
A lengthy debate ensued, with Draper claiming he was unsure whether it bounced on his side of the court.
"If there was a replay I would replay it, but I don't know… I was looking at you," said the Brit to Auger-Aliassime.
Auger-Aliassime responded: "Jack, you know. It doesn't matter where you were looking, you've played enough to know when you hit it, you know where it went."
The Canadian then turned his frustrations towards the umpire.
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'Worst I've played' - Alcaraz on smashing racquet and Monfils defeat
Video credit: SNTV
"That is horrendous what you just did," he said. "Did you not see the ball bounce on the floor? He shanked it onto the floor!
"We're going to leave here, this will be everywhere and it's going to look ridiculous.
"I'm going to ask you one more time, if you're 100% sure that you're not going to leave here and that you have no doubt, not one ounce of doubt in yourself that that was a clean volley winner, then I'll shake his hand right now and the match will be over."
Allensworth responded: "I have to call it how I see it Felix, this is how I am and this is how I saw it.
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"If I had a doubt I would tell you, but we can go back and look at it after the match and if I see I'm wrong I'll admit it to you, but for now I can't go back and look at it."
Draper is now through to the quarter-finals where he will play 15th seed Holger Rune.
Cincinnati open results
Gael Monfils def. Carlos Alcaraz (4-6, 7-6, 6-4)
The other big story of the day in Cincinnati was France's Gael Monfils producing an upset to beat world number three and Olympic silver medalist Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 32. The Spaniard lost the second set in a tie-break before going on to lose the third and final set, uncharacteristically smashing his racquet on the court in frustration.
Holger Rune def Gael Monfils (3-6, 6-3, 6-4)
Monfils couldn't carry the momentum of a shock victory over Alcaraz into the round of 16, however, falling to Denmark's Rune in three sets after a tight turnaround.
Ben Shelton def. Fabian Marozsan (6-4 ,6-3)
Playing on home turf ahead of the US Open, America's Ben Shelton made light work of Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in a straight sets victory to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Andrey Rublev def Brandon Nakashima (7-6, 6-1)
Andrey Rublev needed a tiebreaker to take the first set against wild card Brandon Nakashima, before storming the second set to secure his passage to the final eight.
Hubert Hurkacz def Flavio Cobolli (6-3, 3-6, 6-1)
World number five Hubert Hurkacz needed a deciding third set to overcome Italy's Flavio Cobolli in Ohio.
Alexander Zverev def. Pablo Carreno Busta (7-5, 7-6)
On the stats sheet, this game will appear as another straight sets victory for world number three Alexander Zverev, but the German had to work hard to get the better of Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in a second set tiebreaker.
Frances Tiafoe def. Jiri Lehecka (6-4, 6-7, 7-6)
American Frances Tiafoe won a near three-hour battle against Jiri Lehecka via a third set tiebreaker after losing the second set in similar fashion. Tiafoe will now face Hurkacz in the quarter-finals.
Jannik Sinner def. Jordan Thompson via walkover
World number one Jannik Sinner didn't have to break sweat on Friday after opponent Jordan Thompson withdrew from their round of 16 tie due to physical issues.
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