Calls for ban to be issued after Daniil Medvedev sparks controversy at Shanghai Masters | Tennis | Sport
Two commentators have called for replays to be banned after Daniil Medvedev asked to review a point during the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals. The former champion faced No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur and took an early break lead in the first set.
Medvedev was making headway on De Minaur’s serve while leading 5-3 but he sent the ball long on the second deuce, giving his opponent the point. As De Minaur stepped up to the baseline to serve, Medvedev requested to see a replay of the Aussie’s serve.
Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend wasn’t happy. The replay does not change the outcome of the point, and the commentator thought the whole system should be abolished to stop players from using it to give themselves extra time.
“This is where Medvedev just pushes it. He is wanting to see the call here. They should probably ban that. It serves no purpose. The crowd are probably seeing it on the screens anyway, to add to their enjoyment,” he said, as screens in the stadium showed De Minaur’s serve had landed on the line.
“There is no need to show that to the player, they can’t change the point and it just buys him a little bit of extra time.”
Naomi Broady replied: “It did seem a bit tactical on that occasion. He was still at the towel box but it was at least a close call. Some of the challenges that are replayed are an absolute mile out!”
Overend wasn’t the only one who wanted to do away with the replays. On the world feed, Barry Cowan declared: “That rule has to change, just has to change.”
Co-commentator Nick Lester asked: “You’d like to see no replays allowed.” And Cowan gave it a firm: “No.”
The challenge system has changed since the introduction of electronic line calling. Previously, line judges would call the lines, and players could use Hawkeye to challenge a call. They’d have three challenges per set, and if they got one wrong, they’d be docked one.
Now, Hawkeye automatically makes all of the line calls, and a pre-recorded voice yells “out” for balls that land outside of the lines.
Players are still allowed to request to watch a close-up replay of the Hawkeye call if they wish, but it doesn’t change the outcome. In Medvedev’s case, it meant the point went to De Minaur.
It took a while for the Australian to hold serve, but he came through a marathon game before Medvedev took eight minutes to close out the first set 6-4. And the Russian went on to seal a 6-4 6-4 victory, reaching the semi-final. It’s his best result here since he won the title in 2019.
