"It's going to look ridiculous": Felix Auger-Aliassime rebukes umpire over 'crazy' disputed ball bounce call in Cincinnati Open 3R loss to Jack Draper
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper's third-round clash at the 2024 Cincinnati Open ended in controversy due to a disputed ball bounce call on match point. Frustrated over the contentious decision, Auger-Aliassime rebuked chair umpire Greg Allensworth for his oversight.
Auger-Aliassime and Draper engaged in a closely contested battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 event. After the duo won a set apiece, the Brit secured a crucial break of serve in the decider and claimed a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory in two hours and 37 minutes.
However, a controversy erupted on match point as Felix Auger-Aliassime appeared incredulous over the chair umpire awarding the point to Jack Draper. The Canadian argued that Draper's volley had hit the frame of his racket and touched the court before falling over the net.
While the Brit claimed he was unaware of the ball's trajectory, Auger-Aliassime questioned how Allensworth could have missed the detail.
"I wasn't looking," Draper said.
"Did you not see the ball bounce on the floor?" He shanked it on the floor. What do you mean?" Felix Auger-Aliassime questioned.
However, umpire Greg Allensworth, who was recently involved in a line call controversy during Taylor Fritz's Cincinnati Open loss, insisted that he didn't see the ball hit the court.
Visibly frustrated, the Canadian asserted that Allensworth's call would look "ridiculous" and "crazy" once the replays began making the rounds.
"You're going to get out not and it's going to be everywhere. I'm serious. It's going to look ridiculous. It's gonna be crazy. And I know it's not his place to bring that call, it's a match win for him but it's your place to make that call," the Canadian argued.
Although the 24-year-old attempted to explain his perspective to Jack Draper to no avail, he emphasized that it wasn't the Brit's responsibility to make the call and expressed disbelief over the umpire's refusal to change his decision.
"It's not your place to make that call. Are you seriously not coming back on your call?" he questioned.
However, the Canadian's protests and the crowd's loud chants for a replay proved futile, as the ATP supervisor upheld the chair umpire's call and sealed the 24-year-old's loss.
Nevertheless, Felix Auger-Aliassime was later vindicated, as the replays showed that Jack Draper's shot had indeed ricocheted off his racket frame and hit the court before crossing the net.
Jack Draper to take on Holger Rune in Cincinnati Open QF after win over Felix Auger-Aliassime
Having claimed impressive wins over formidable opponents like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jack Draper will enter his Cincinnati Open quarterfinal clash against 15th seed Holger Rune with an air of confidence.
The Brit aims to reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal as he squares off against Rune in their first tour-level meeting. If Draper triumphs over the Dane, he will take on Hubert Hurkacz or the winner of the match between Frances Tiafoe and Jiri Lehecka.
Auger-Aliassime and Tsitsipas, meanwhile, will compete at the 2024 US Open next, the main draw action of which commences on August 26.