World number one Aryna Sabalenka says players must stop play instantly to request a video review, criticising the rule after a controversial call in Daniil Medvedev’s match.
WORLD number one Aryna Sabalenka has called for a change to video review rules after a controversial hindrance call marred Daniil Medvedev’s victory at the BNP Paribas Open.
Sabalenka argued players must halt a point immediately if they feel distracted, not wait to see the outcome before requesting a review.
Her comments follow Medvedev’s 6-1, 7-5 win over Britain’s Jack Draper, which featured a contentious decision by chair umpire Aurelie Tourte.
Tourte used video review after the point ended to rule that Draper’s raised arm had distracted Medvedev, awarding the Russian the point and a late break.
The decision prompted jeers from the crowd, with Draper insisting he had not caused a major distraction.
“What I think is really awkward is you can finish the point and then ask for that,” Sabalenka told reporters.
“If you really got bothered, then you should stop immediately and ask for the video review.”
She suggested the current procedure could be exploited for tactical gain.
“If he would have won the point, he wouldn’t probably ask for the video review, right? I don’t really think that’s the way it should be.”
Video review technology for hindrance and foul shots has been available at all ATP Masters 1000 tournaments since February last year.
Umpires can also initiate hindrance calls without a player request, as happened to Sabalenka for excessive grunting during her Australian Open semi-final in January.
“With me, it was unnecessary for the referee to call that one,” Sabalenka said of that incident.
“About Daniil, theoretically he (Draper) made the move, but I don’t think it bothered Daniil that much.”
Sabalenka now faces Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells final on Sunday.
The match is a rematch of their Australian Open title clash in Melbourne.
