Rafael Nadal gets into heated argument with chair umpire, demands supervisor intervention after controversial challenge in Madrid Open 2R
Rafael Nadal's second-round clash against Alex de Minaur at the 2024 Madrid Open became the scene of controversy early on as the Spaniard engaged in a heated debate with the chair umpire after a close line call.
Nadal started off on the strong foot, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening set. During his next service game, the Mallorcan believed a ball from the Aussie was out, but was not called by the lineperson on the court.
He walked over to the mark made by the ball on the clay court and circled it for the umpire, which he believed was a sign that he wanted to challenge the call.
The chair umpire, however, did not consider it so. When Nadal then asked for the call to be reviewed after that, the umpire refused to budge, stating that challenges by the players out to be made immediately -- which was not the case with Nadal's, as a few precious seconds had elapsed by then.
The 37-year-old did not back down either, and proceeded to argue with the chair umpire over the implications of his actions. Nadal felt that him making a mark on the court was all the umpire needed to come down and check it, while the umpire believed the player had to make a clear sign that the call was being challenged.
Ultimately, the umpire did not go ahead with the challenge, leading to the southpaw asking for the tournament supervisor's intervention. While the umpire agreed to call him on-site, he wanted play to resume in the meantime, which Nadla did not initally agree with.
After a few angry gestures towards his player's box, the 22-time Grand Slam champion reluctantly agreed soon after, and carried on with the game. The supervisor did appear on the court afterwards, but the original decision stayed unaltered. Unfortunately, he lost the serve, following which De Minaur held firm to restore parity in the set at 2-2.
It should be noted that while Hawk-Eye technology is not yet considered accurate enough on clay, replays showed that Nadal was right about the call being out. Had the umpire gone over to check the call, the point would have been awarded in favor of the Spaniard.
At the time of publication, the score was tied at 4-4 with both players breaking each other one more time.
Rafael Nadal playing in his final Madrid Open campaign
Rafael Nadal previously confirmed at the start of the tournament that the 2024 edition is going to be his last appearance at the Madrid Open, a tournament he has won five times in the past.
"I am not prepared to play at 100 percent, but it is important to play for the last time in Madrid. That's important, playing for the last time here in Madrid means a lot. Because yes, I think it will be the last time I play in Madrid," he said.
The Mallorcan's first-round win against Darwin Blanch was attended by his wife Maria Francisca Perello, his sister Maribel, and his baby son. There are also expectations that a tribute will be arranged for the southpaw at the tournament, although Nadal himself has downplayed such gestures.