Casper Ruud thinks it’s time for the tennis authorities to end the double bounce controversies once and for all as the Norwegian is calling for the introduction of video reviews for such situations after the Alexander Zverev and Hugo Gaston drama.
On Thursday in Hamburg, a pretty questionable call went Gaston’s way – and to make it all worse, it happened on a set point.
Serving to stay in the first set at 4-5 and facing a set point, Zverev hit a short smash that appeared to touch the clay twice. But since no one made any calls, Gaston returned that ball – Zverev got another ball in play – but only to give the Frenchman a chance at an easy pass that ultimately gave the world No. 81 the first set.
Zverev instantly raised his hands in frustration and started asking the chair umpire questions, as well as demanding Gaston to admit that the ball touched his part of the court twice. But since the 23-year-old Gaston insisted that he didn’t know, there was nothing that could help the German – not even a visit from the supervisor.
After the incident, Tennis TV posted footage of it on X and asked: “One or two bounces?”
The post prompted a reaction from three-time Grand Slam finalist Ruud, who wrote: “Crazy to me that we’re in 2024 and it’s not possible to challenge/video review calls like this…”
Crazy to me that we’re in 2024 and it’s not possible to challenge/video review calls like this..
— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) July 18, 2024
One fan used the opportunity to ask Ruud if a call like this could really change the way the match ends.
“Casper, from your experience is one play or ‘missed call’ like this going to REALLY change the outcome of a match?” the person wrote.
Ruud answered: “I think it could. Most cases no it won’t, but in some yes. In theory it could happen on match point at 6-5 in the deciding set tiebreak. That’s either match over or 6-6 in the tiebreak…”
I think it could. Most cases no it won’t, but in some yes. In theory it could happen on match point at 6-5 in the deciding set tiebreak. That’s either match over or 6-6 in the tiebreak..
— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) July 18, 2024
Gaston lost to Zverev but still faced criticism and backlash over the controversial situation
Reacting to Tennis TV’s post, many fans were of the belief that the ball hit the surface twice before Gaston returned it into play. Also, some went as far as to throw some even bigger accusations at the Frenchman.
And after the match, former world No. 58 Gaston very likely noticed what was being written about him so he decided to send out a little message, in which he claimed that he would undoubtedly confess a double bounce if he knew that it indeed happened.
“It seems that there was a tensed point and people did not understand what happened. I gave everything and did not feel the ball bounced twice. I fought as much as possible. Of course if I felt the ball had bounced twice, I would have admitted it. Sascha and myself know that, there was absolutely no problem. I would have preferred to win after such a tough match, but I hope next time!” Gaston said in a message posted on his Instagram Story.
Daniil Medvedev got furious over the same thing at Wimbledon
Just a week earlier at Wimbledon, world No. 5 Medvedev was in a similar situation as Zverev was in Hamburg. Serving for the first set against Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev returned a ball that was called a double bounce – that instantly gave the Spaniard the point and a break back.
Medvedev got pretty annoyed and even appeared to start cursing, which landed him unsportsmanlike conduct. In the end. the 2021 US Open champion went on to win the first set but still lost the match in four sets.
Later, Medvedev argued that introducing a VAR for double bounces would make the life of umpires and players so easier.
“The thing is that I think it would be so much easier with a challenge system. The challenge system shows a bounce. So if there was a bounce, it would show it. Then if we use it, we would never have this situation. So I don’t know why don’t we use the challenge system for double bounce, the Hawk-Eye or whatever,” Medvedev said.
Brad Gilbert, who has been Coco Gauff’s coach for the past year, agreed 100 percent with Medvedev.
“As I am watching Escape from Alcaraz vs Meddy Bear. I really hope in 2025 championships we go to electronic line calling, like we do @AustralianOpen @usopen also absolutely 100 percent no reason why umpires don’t have monitors on court for incidentals like the double bounces etc,” Gilbert wrote on X after the double bounce incident in the Medvedev and Alcaraz match.