Unforced error by umpire favours Garin in win over local player Borges in Estoril
A wrong call by the chair umpire on break point for Borges in the second set was the centre of the online tennis world on Saturday morning
Nuno Borges reacts to referee decision during the Millennium Estoril Open
Image Credit: SPP / Panoramic
The quarter-final match between Chile’s Cristian Garin and local favourite Nuno Borges, one of 12 quarter-final matches on the ATP Tour on Friday, was not the one anyone would have expected to be making the headlines on Saturday morning.
But that’s what happened after a glaring error by the chair umpire during a crucial point early in the second set went against Borges, leading to fans to boo Garin as he walked off the court after his eventual straight sets win. The Chilean was also called out for an apparent lack of sportsmanship by tennis fans online.
Here’s how things unfolded
Borges lost the first set 6-2 but earned a break point in the sixth game of the second set. Garin hit a deep shot that someone in the crowd called out. Borges returned the ball back but Garin, seeming distracted by the out call from the crowd and Borges’ reaction to that, missed his next shot, hitting it wide.
Garin went on to complain to the umpire, Christian Rask, that he was distracted by the call and Borges seeming like he stopped the point, post which the point was awarded to Garin.
Borges appeared bewildered by the decision and tried explaining to the umpire that he did not make the call or stop the point and that Garin hit the next shot out. But his appeal fell on deaf ears. The supervisor, Carlos Sanches, was also called on court but after deliberations, the umpire’s decision stood.
“I left the court without understanding the umpire’s judgment,” Borges reportedly said after the match. “He knows he made a mistake. It didn’t make any sense. Point shouldn’t stop because someone in the crowd shouts. He felt something coming from the crowd but we continued but he missed. Garin told me he missed because I stopped. It’s not his fault, but he doesn’t look good in this situation as well…”
Garin went on to win that game and the match in straight sets and later said he was annoyed by the crowd reaction to him.
“He stopped the point,” Garin reportedly said after the match. “I stopped too. I don’t know if it’s my point or if we should replay it. Need to check it. I will check it later. The atmosphere was crazy after that and I’m very proud of myself. It was kind of annoying during the match…”
Former Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka were among those who reacted to the controversy on social media, with the Australian calling for the umpire to be fired and Wawrinka calling the situation a ‘Disaster’.
Garin won’t find too many fans in his corner when he is back for the semi-final against second seed Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday.
