"I would've admitted"- After controversial call against Alexander Zverev in Hamburg, Hugo Gaston issues statement defending himself
French tennis player Hugo Gastan has responded to the controversy surrounding his Hamburg Open defeat against Alexander Zverev. Gastan had won the first set, which included a disputed call on set point.
The incident occurred during a tense set point, where Alexander Zverev's ball appeared to have bounced twice before Gaston returned it. However, despite the calls for a double bounce from Zverev, the umpire did not intervene, eventually awarding the point to Gaston, who won the first set. Gaston, unfortunately, failed to capitalize on the opportunity as Zverev returned from the first set loss to win the game 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Gaston has subsequently issued a statement clarifying his view on the incident on his Instagram story, saying,
"It seems there was a tense point, and people did not understand what happened. I gave everything and did not feel the ball bounced twice. I fought as much as possible. Of course, if I felt the ball had bounced twice, I would have admitted it."
Zverev was visibly frustrated by the umpire's decision and protested passionately. He even called for a supervisor, but to no effect. Gaston said after the game that he preferred to win the match after such a tough fight, but he would come better prepared next time. Casper Ruud also shared his view on the incident later, calling it 'crazy'.
The win marks a crucial step in the right direction for Zverev, who is looking for a successful title defense in Hamburg. His resilience and never-give-up attitude were on display here, pushing him ahead despite the officiating controversy.
Alexander Zverev and umpires, a match made in a mess
German star tennis player Alexander Zverev has become a formidable force on the tennis court though he has had some struggles with umpires, highlighting the challenges within the sport's officiating framework. The most recent incident occurred during his match against Hugo Gastan in Hamburg, over a non-call after an apparent double bounce.
Another incident occurred in the French Open final, contested between Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, where Zverev contested a crucial call in the fifth set that significantly affected the match's outcome. Talking about the game, Zverev had said in his post-match interview:
"There’s a difference whether you’re down 3-1 in the fifth set or you're back to 2-all. It’s frustrating but it is what it is."
Alexander Zverev had got some support after the French Open final from former World No. 1 Andy Roddick, who voiced his opinion on X (formerly twitter), saying,
"Can’t replace real-life playing experience when reading marks correctly. Good riddance to these umpires trying. Bring in the machines full time."
At tournaments like the Cincinnati Masters and the BMW Open, he has been vocal about his issues with match officials, including about being asked to play in rain and an issue of background noise affecting play.