"Why don't you stop it?" - Taylor Fritz confronts umpire over "ridiculous" disputed line call in controversial scenes during Cincinnati Open 1R loss
Taylor Fritz's opening clash at the 2024 Cincinnati Open was marred by controversy over a disputed line call. The American was left incredulous over the chair umpire's contentious ruling, lambasting the "ridiculous" decision.
Fritz took on compatriot Brandon Nakashima in his opening match at the ATP Masters 1000 event, with Nakashima claiming the opening set 6-4. Leading 3-2 in the second set, the World No. 12 had an opportunity to secure a crucial break point at 30-30 on Nakashima's serve when the match took a controversial turn.
As the American duo engaged in a tense rally, Nakashima hit a shot that visibly appeared to have landed out but was not flagged by the electronic line calling system. Play continued until a delayed call arrived, prompting the chair umpire to stop the rally and order a replay of the point.
Taylor Fritz was perplexed by the decision to replay the point rather than awarding it to him, voicing his frustration to the umpire. The umpire argued that the shot would've been reviewed if Fritz had stopped the point immediately, but the 26-year-old countered that it wasn't his responsibility to stop play when the electronic line calling system was in place.
"If you would've stopped the point...," the umpire began.
"Okay no wait, no no no no. Don't tell me that I need to stop the point when we have electronic line calling," Taylor Fritz argued.
"I know but that's how it works. You could have stopped the point and we could have looked at it then," the umpire contended.
"I mean yeah if we didn't have electronic line calling, I stop. The ball was so far out," Fritz responded.
When the umpire insisted that the point would have to be replayed, Fritz questioned why the umpire hadn't intervened earlier to call the ball out himself.
"Yeah but why don't you stop it? You're in the chair. You saw that ball, it was like a foot out," the American questioned.
"For me, I thought it was out too but I can't do that," the umpire said.
"It's actually ridiculous," Taylor Fritz responded.
Despite the controversy, Taylor Fritz kept a calm head to win the second set 6-4, forcing a decider. However, Brandon Nakashima edged past the World No. 12 in the third-set tiebreak, pulling off a stunning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4) upset.
Taylor Fritz's ATP Finals 2024 qualification chances dealt with significant blow after Cincinnati Open 1R loss
Taylor Fritz's back-to-back early exits at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open have dealt a significant blow to his qualification chances for the 2024 ATP Finals.
Fritz currently holds the 10th spot in the Race to the ATP Finals, with 2,590 points to his name. With only eight spots up for grabs at the year-end championships, the American has significant ground to cover to catch up to Alex de Minaur, who is ranked eighth with 2,905 points.
The World No. 12 will be in action at the US Open next, which commences on August 26. Having reached the quarterfinals of the New York Major last year, Fritz will aim to make another deep run at his home Slam.