Stan Wawrinka controversy and Serena & Venus Williams mishaps – 5 huge umpire mistakes
Umpire mistakes are back on the spotlight following a significant error at the Shanghai Masters on Monday.
Carlos Bernardes incorrectly called the score in a match between Stan Wawrinka and Flavio Cobolli, and the incident has attracted huge attention in the ensuing 24 hours.
Here, we look at that incident, and four other infamous umpire mistakes that have also put tennis in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
2024 Shanghai Masters: Stan Wawrinka vs Flavio Cobolli
This latest controversy concerned Wawrinka and Cobolli’s round two match in Shanghai, which the Italian ultimately won 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3.
There had been no breaks in the first two sets of the match and 28th seed Cobolli ultimately earned the contest’s only break of serve – in the second game of the decider – in hugely controversial fashion.
He and Wawrinka had split the first two points but umpire Bernardes accidentally called the score as 0-30, not 15-15 – with neither player appearing to notice.
That proved to be a crucial call, with former world No 3 Wawrinka losing serve thanks to the inadvertent error from Bernardes – and eventually losing the match.
The controversy has marred what was a high-quality contest between the two.
2004 Wimbledon: Venus Williams vs Karolina Sprem
Similarly to Wawrinka, Venus was on the wrong side of an incorrect point call during her shock 7-6(5), 7-6(6) loss to Karolina Sprem in the second round of Wimbledon two decades ago.
The third seed was a set down and needed to win the second set tiebreak to avoid defeat, only for umpired Ted Watts to make an infamous error early in the breaker.
Serving down 1-2, Sprem’s first serve was out, though Watts called the call as 2-2 after the Croatian appeared to complete the point, perhaps due to the momentum generated in the momentum.
Sprem’s second serve was easily dispatched by Venus – who should have been leading 3-1 – but the score was called as 3-2.
Both women sensed something was wrong, but continued playing, and the Croatian eventually rallied from 2-5 down in the breaker to win.
Tennis News
Who is Coco Gauff’s new coach? Matt Daly looks to transform American’s game
2004 US Open: Serena Williams vs Jennifer Capriati
The introduction of hawk-eye technology was inevitable after Serena was the victim of multiple incorrect line calls at the US Open in 2004.
The American lost her quarter-final 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to compatriot Jennifer Capriati, though calls by umpired Mariana Alves overshadowed the end of the match.
Several calls incorrectly went against Serena throughout the match – as shown by the hawk-eye used on the TV coverage – but perhaps the worst came in the first game of the final set.
Serena appeared to hit a winner that was well inside the baseline, though Alves overruled the decision and called the ball out.
What should have been a Capriati double fault in the final game should also have been called – and Alves was not selected for another match that tournament.
2018 Qatar Open: Agnieszka Radwanska vs Mona Barthel
Unlike Wawrinka and Venus, Radwanska was on the wrong side of not one, but two incorrect score calls at the Qatar Open in 2018 – both in the same game.
Up against Mona Barthel in round one, the Pole hit a passing shot receiving at 4-2 up in the decider, though umpire Marija Cicak accidently called the score as 15-0, not 0-15.
Cicak appeared to correct her call the next point by calling 15-15, but then proceeded to call the score 30-15 in favour of Barthel, despite the German hitting a forehand well wide.
It was not until the game was done that a member of Radwanska’s team flagged the issue to the former world No 2.
Radwanska debatedly heavily with Cicak who, after discussing with an official, overturned her mistake; the Pole would ultimately win 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
2024 US Open: Anna Kalinskaya vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
Video replays were meant to help avoid controversy, though at the US Open just a few weeks ago it only created more drama and debate.
Kalinskaya appeared to win a point against Haddad Maia early on in their third round clash, only for a seeming bounce on her opponent’s side of the net not to get called.
Umpire Miriam Bley did not make the initial call and, despite the video review, did not overall the initial mistake.
15th seed Kalinskaya was left stunned by the decision, and mentally never recovered in a 6-3, 6-1 defeat to eventual quarter-finalist Haddad Maia.