Umpiring Controversy Casts Dark Shadow Over Holger Rune’s French Open Encounter Against Francisco Cerundolo as Video Replay Calls Grow Louder

Just when you thought you’d seen the last of the controversy at the 2023 French Open, another controversial moment popped up again. This time, it happened between the eagerly anticipated fifth-round clash between Holger Rune and Francisco Cerundolo. It involved the chair umpire missing a clear double bounce. As a direct consequence of the chair umpire’s error, Rune went on to break Cerundolo’s serve as the game was ending. The moment proved to be telling in the long run. Rune eventually overcame Cerundolo’s fierce challenge to cement his place in the quarterfinals.

The moment brought to the fore once again why so many people have been pleading with the French Open organizers to introduce video replays. It also took tennis fans back to a moment from a couple of days ago when Frances Tiafoe suffered owing to the lack of video replays during his match against Alexander Zverev.

Yet another controversial umpiring decision overshadows high-profile fifth round contest between Holger Rune and Francisco Cerundolo

Rune stepped into his fifth-round match against Cerundolo as one of the dark horses for this year’s men’s singles French Open crown. However, during the initial stages of the first set, which Rune eventually won, controversy gripped the tournament yet again. Cerundolo was leading Rune 2-1 at the time.

With the set’s fourth game firmly in the balance at 40-40, Cerundolo hit a forehand, which resulted in a double bounce. Next, Rune proceeded to play a lob shot. As soon as the ball went up, Cerundolo pleaded the chair umpire for a call. However, the chair umpire took the extraordinary decision to call hindrance. As a result, the advantage went to Rune.

Things went from bad to worse for Cerundolo as Rune broke his serve and as a result, won the game. Eventually, Rune won the first set, which only added insult to injury for Cerundolo. Many fans took to social media to voice their opposition against Rune, who they thought clearly saw the double bounce. This latest moment of controversy comes mere days after American Frances Tiafoe found himself at the wrong end of the chair umpire’s decision during his clash against Alexander Zverev.

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What happened during Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev’s tense encounter?

Frances Tiafoe was clearly in the ascendancy in his fourth-round match against Alexander Zverev. Tiafoe quite comfortably won the first set. However, Zverev bounced back in the second set. Despite Zverev’s best efforts, Tiafoe proved to be a tough nut to cruck. Unsurprisingly, the set went to a tense tiebreaker.

Even during the tiebreaker, Tiafoe and Zverev matched each other stride for stride. However, the even contest lasted only until the chair umpire made a controversial call. A Zverev shot, which replays comprehensively proved was out, went unnoticed. As a result, the chair umpire awarded Zverev the point. Eventually, Zverev won the second set, and the momentum completely shifted in his favor. Subsequently, Zverev emerged victorious, leaving Tiafoe’s fan’s fuming. Let’s hope that the umpiring decisions get more accurate as the 2023 French Open heads into its final few days.

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