Mirra Andreeva unleashes frustration in heated Madrid Open exchange | Tennis | Sport
Mirra Andreeva complained to chair umpire Kader Nouni about one line call during and after the game (Image: Getty)
Mirra Andreeva complained to chair umpire Kader Nouni multiple times about the same controversial electronic line call during her Madrid Open semi-final against Hailey Baptiste. Almost three weeks after winning the Linz Open, she is through to a third WTA 1000 final, the first teenager to do so, but it was not straightforward, and her frustrations with the technology were clear in the first set.
Andreeva, 19, was 15-0 down to Baptiste during the fifth game of their match, with the previous ones all going with serve, when the flashpoint took place. The Russian player disagreed with the electronic system’s decision to call a shot from her opponent in, which Marion Bartoli, who was sitting courtside, working for Sky Sports, said was clearly out of bounds and should have definitely gone in Andreeva’s favour.
Before playing the next point, the world No.8 walked over to umpire Nouni to make her case. He says as she approached: “You know how it works, right? You know how it works, and, unfortunately, I have the green light; it is what it is, and we have to go for it.”
Andreeva asked in response: “So, even if you see that it’s out, you cannot overrule?” Nouni replied: “First of all, I haven’t seen this one out.” The player then interjected: “But this is not only like this,” gesturing with a small gap between her index finger and thumb.
She repeated that point multiple times, adding: “But this is like that, we’re not talking about this, this is that, this is like five centimetres we’re talking about.” The umpire responded: “I do understand you, but as soon as I have the green light, I have to follow, OK?” Andreeva turned and walked away after that latest explanation.
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Kader Nouni and Mirra Andreeva eventually agreed to disagree after the second of their discussions (Image: Getty)
She lost the game and went 3-2 down, then had another conversation with Nouni about the call at the change of ends. Taking a different approach, Andreeva said: “I understand that you cannot overrule, but as players, what do we do?”
Nouni conceded: “That’s a good question, but I think you need to know exactly how it works. Sometimes, what you see is the mark; you see space, but the bounce and the image (are different).” Andreeva agreed: “I know, I know that sometimes it happens, especially on the serve, but this is just, you haven’t seen the mark.”
He replied: “For me, I think it is quite close.” She, unsurprisingly, did not agree: “Yeah, quite close – it’s this, this is not close.
“I understand that you cannot do anything, but as players, this can mean a lot. For you, just one point, but for players, sometimes it’s a lot. Nouni had the final word, saying: “I know, I do understand your point, but technically and by the procedure, nothing I can do.”
