Poland’s tennis star
Iga Swiatek has given her version about
the controversial call in the quarterfinal of the
Australian Open. The
23-year-old, who is already regarded as one of the best players currently
playing in women’s tennis in the singles category, cemented her spot in the last-four
of the first Grand Slam of the year after beating America’s
Emma Navarro in
straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
During the match, in the second set, there was a
controversial incident where it was not clear if the ball bounced twice before Swiatek
returned it. Her opponent was not allowed to review the call either because she did not stop at the point. The five-time Grand Slam winner, while talking to the media after the match, stated that she had no idea whether the ball bounced twice before she returned it as she was in motion. She also
stated that she did not look at the big screen for a replay.
“Honestly, I didn't see the replay after this point because
after the point I didn't look up for the screens because I wanted to stay
focused and didn't want this point to stay in my head for longer period of time,”
she said. “I wasn't sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame.
It was hard to say because, like, I was full sprinting. I don't remember, like,
even seeing the contact point. I don't know. Sometimes you don't really look
when you hit the ball. So I wasn't sure. I thought this is like the umpire's
kind of job to call it, you know. I was also waiting for the VAR, but I didn't
see it, so I just kind of proceed. I already focused on the next one.”
Swiatek, who will be playing in the semifinal of the
Australian Open for the second time for her maiden place in the final, will now
face America’s Madison Keys in the last-four clash. The 29-year-old cemented
her spot in the semifinal after beating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina with a score
of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.