(Watch) Drama unfolds at Cincinnati Open as umpire takes controversial decision against Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz was seeded 11th at the 2024 Cincinnati Open.

Controversies emerged at the 2024 Cincinnati Open as a contentious decision was taken by the match umpire during an all-American first-round clash between Taylor Fritz and Brandon Nakashima.

On Tuesday, Brandon Nakashima outclassed Taylor Fritz in a three-set thriller to secure a spot in the second round of the 2024 Cincinnati Open. However, drama unfolded during the match after the chair umpire refrained from giving an out call to Nakashima.

Brandon Nakashima hit a shot, which landed outside the baseline; however, the match rally wasn’t halted as Fritz took the shot. After four shots, the umpire demanded that the rally stop and called Hawkeye to check the point.

Drama at #CincyTennis 👀The umpire stops the point mid-rally between Fritz & Nakashima… pic.twitter.com/00SRdw5NZk

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 14, 2024

Fritz went to the umpire to complain about the point and said, “Look how far the ball was out.” The chair umpire said, “I understand that, however, they didn’t stop in time. We played 6,7 more shots.”

The two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist said, “I mean, I stopped.” The chair umpire countered, “I mean if you would have stopped the point,” but he was interrupted as Fritz said, “No, don’t tell me that I need to stop the point when we have electronic line calling.”

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However, the umpire stood by his decision by saying, “I know, but that’s how it works. You could have stopped the point and we could have looked at it then,” and Fritz again interrupted, saying, “I mean yeah if we didn’t have electronic line calling. I stop the ball was so far out.”

Nevertheless, the chair umpire later affirmed that the point would be replayed. Taylor Fritz protested again; however, the umpire claimed the point would be replayed due to a technical error. Other tennis stars, such as Daniil Medvedev and Alex Michelson, also reacted on social media about the point.

As per the ATP rules, Fritz would have got the point. However, a replay can only be asked after a point ends unlike what happened in the match between Nakshima and Fritz. Additionally, Fritz was also a realistic candidate to reach the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and he was seeded 11th in the competition. Nevertheless, Nakashima will face Frenchman Arthur Fils in the round of 32.

Fritz also reacted on the point after the match. He also stated that the umpire call had nothing to do with his loss.

Imagine telling me I needed to stop the point when we have literal Hawkeye electronic line calling 😂 https://t.co/c6O03AaOr7

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) August 14, 2024

Side note- I don’t think this changes anything in the match considering I won the point replay so don’t take this as an excuse… just pointing out an insane call

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) August 14, 2024

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