'This nonsense never happens again' - Novak Djokovic bashes tournament officials for controversial decision-making at 2024 Cincinnati Open

Defending champion Novak Djokovic withdrew from the 2024 Cincinnati Open after the Paris Olympics.

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic took to social media and called out the tournament officials at the 2024 Cincinnati Open after a series of errors.

During the first-round fixture between Brandon Nakashima and Taylor Fritz, chair umpire Greg Allensworth didn’t give the two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist an outcall. Greg Allensworth stated that he would have given an outcall if Fritz had stopped the point at the moment it was out.

Later, the point was replayed and Fritz eventually lost the match in three sets. Another such incident took place during the Round of 16 of the 2024 Cincinnati Open. Great Britain’s Jack Draper was facing Canada’s Felix Augur Aliassime for a spot in the quarter-finals. In the third set, Greg Allensworth awarded a controversial match point to Draper.

It seemed like the ball bounced twice before Draper took a shot from his side of the court. Eventually, the point was awarded to Draper, and he won the match. Augur Aliassime and Draper also talked to the chair umpire and asked for a replay of the shot with the line technology. However, Greg Allensworth denied it, and the match ended.

After the game, Stefanos Tsitsipas took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “I don’t think I have ever seen a shot like this.”

I don’t think I have ever seen a shot like this https://t.co/UpAZhoprWH

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) August 17, 2024

Later, reacting to the Greek tennis star’s post, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic took to X and bashed the tournament officials for the controversial decision-making. He stated that the issue is embarrassing and should not be repeated.

ALSO READ: (Watch) Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa stretch together at Cincinnati Open

The 24-time Grand Slam champion wrote, “It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay of these kind of situations on the court. What’s even more ridiculous is that we don’t have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court!”

It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay of these kind of situations on the court. What’s even more ridiculous is that we don’t have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court!… https://t.co/MQsmqpTmXK

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 17, 2024

He further wrote, “Everyone who watches TV sees what happened on the replay, yet the players on the court are kept in “dark” not knowing what’s the outcome. We have Hawkeye for line calls, we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please respective Tours, make sure this nonsense never happens again!”

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