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'Silly' - Expert criticises umpire after 'very obvious' Iga Swiatek double-bounce incident in big Australian Open moment

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Eurosport expert Laura Robson has branded chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore's decision not to use technology to resolve the double-bounce controversy between Iga Swiatek and Emma Navarro as "silly". The incident occurred during the pair's Australian Open quarter-final, where Swiatek was one set up and had the advantage as she served at 2-2 in the second set. The world No. 2 won the match 6-1 6-2.

'Confused' Robson says double-bounce was 'very obvious' in Swiatek incident

Video credit: TNT Sports

Laura Robson said it was "silly" not to use technology to resolve the double-bounce controversy during Iga Swiatek and Emma Navarro's Australian Open quarter-final.

At a crucial stage of the pair's last-eight encounter, a Navarro drop shot seemed to bounce twice on Swiatek's side of the net as the Pole desperately hurled herself at the ball to touch it back over.

Navarro then needed to react quickly to return, before Swiatek won the point with a backhand winner cross-court.

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Navarro, the eighth seed, complained to chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about the double bounce, asking about a video review, but her request was rebuffed by the Greek official, who told her that she was unable to challenge the call having continued the point.

Navarro continued to disagree with the call in her post-match press conference, arguing that "it should be allowed to see after the point even if you play".

Swiatek also gave her thoughts, believing that it is "the umpire’s job" to make a decision on the controversial double-bounce calls.

Eurosport expert Robson said she "definitely" did not agree with Asderaki-Moore's decision not to let Navarro challenge the decision, but expected the umpire to have had a better look at the incident.

Swiatek reacts to 'tough' victory and is 'really happy' to be in semi-finals

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It's very obvious," Robson said on Eurosport. "I'm slightly confused how the umpire didn't see that. It is fast, it is in the heat of the moment, but it's right in front of the chair.

"I don't feel, in this situation, that it should be up to the players. Iga is coming in quickly, she might not necessarily feel it, and then for Navarro to stop that point in the middle, because she's not allowed to challenge at the end of the point...

"So after she played this next shot, she was not allowed to go to the video review.

"I definitely don't agree with that. If we've got the video review, we should be able to use it whenever. You're leaving a lot up to the players to decide in the middle of the point, when they can't see what's going on.

"Emma had a great perspective, saying that she couldn't see, asking the chair umpire straight after the point ended about the video review, and the answer was no.

"Navarro has such a good head on her shoulders that she just got on with it, and didn't complain, but I know a lot of players would have in that situation. It's silly not to use the technology when it's there."

Fellow Eurosport pundit Tim Henman produced an example of a similar scenario in the match that followed on Rod Laver Arena, between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Sonego, where the ball bounced twice, but Sonego challenged immediately.

'Was that up?' - Watch controversial moment over ball-bounce as Swiatek wins point

Video credit: TNT Sports

"We saw in Shelton's match against Sonego that there was a similar scenario," Henman explained.

"There was a questionable double bounce, but when that shot was in question, the point ended. Sonego then said to the umpire that he wanted to challenge that decision, and went to the replay, and it was obvious that it bounced twice.

"You see it in slow motion in the Swiatek-Navarro match, and that's clearly a double bounce. It's unfortunate that the rally continues. It's a great addition to our sport that we've got technology, and we should use it at every opportunity.

"There is nothing to challenge now with the electronic line calling, but the double bounce decision is still made by the umpire, and there's that human element, and there can be human error. We've seen that twice today - once when they were able to correct it, and once when they weren't."

The incident ultimately played no huge role in the match's outcome, with Swiatek running out a routine 6-1 6-2 victor, and she will face Madison Keys in the next round.

'massive, massive change' that transformed Keys' game

Robson also pinpointed a racquet change as a transformational move that has revolutionised Keys' game.

The American, the 19th seed in Melbourne, came back from a set down to beat Elina Svitolina to reach the semi-finals at the Australian Open for the first time in three years.

"They were doing a bunch of testing [of racquets] in the off-season, and her husband said, 'Madi, welcome to 2025, this is what you should have been playing with for a long time already,'" Robson explained.

"It gives her more control. Power has never been her issue, we all know that. It's just the fact that it's been inconsistent at times, and it could be a winner followed by an unforced error. So just adding that patience to her game, a lot of it comes from the racquet and the string change. She's playing with a poly now. It used to be half gut, half luxilon blend.

"There's been a few mix-arounds that they've done, but she's really happy with how it feels, and to have that confidence that she can go to plan B, and it won't fly off the racquet when she doesn't want it to. It's made a massive, massive change."

Why 'aggressive' Swiatek could be hurt by Keys in Australian Open semi-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mats Wilander and Henman both thought that Keys had no pressure on her shoulders when she faces Swiatek on Thursday, with Wilander saying that the American has "the perfect game" to hurt the five-time Grand Slam champion.

"It's quite a big step-up [for Keys], especially with the way that Iga is playing, not giving away games," Wilander said.

"She looks like she is playing a bit more aggressively than normal, but Swiatek hasn't played a big ball-striker like Keys, and that's what she struggles against. It is against the Sabalenkas and the Rybakinas. If Keys is playing that way, she's got the perfect game to hurt Iga on a fast hard court.

"She's coming in with so much confidence and still, there's no pressure on her to win this match. She's been here before - been in the final of the US Open - and the semis here a few years back. John McEnroe and Jim Courier said that she's one of the best players not to have won a major, and she's pretty close to that."

Henman added: "Madi Keys has been around for quite some time, she's not going to be intimidated playing Swiatek on a big stage in a big match."

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