MELBOURNE, Australia — Iga Swiatek’s impressive journey at the Australian Open continued with a straightforward victory over Emma Navarro on Wednesday. Although Swiatek’s performance has been formidable, a moment during the match sparked discussions about the role of video reviews in tennis. She won the match with a score of 6-1, 6-2, having conceded a mere 14 games in five matches leading up to her semifinals against Madison Keys on Thursday night. A notable point occurred when the score was tied at 2-2; Swiatek failed to reach Navarro’s shot, which bounced twice.
Navarro, the eighth seed, indicated she didn’t believe that particular point was pivotal in terms of momentum. “The score says otherwise,” she remarked, reflecting on the match’s dynamics. She acknowledged feeling frustrated during the changeover but was determined to move on from that moment. “I told myself: ‘It’s time to move on, it’s in the past; can’t linger on it,’” she elaborated.
During a prolonged exchange of 13 strokes, Navarro executed a drop shot that nearly caught the net. Swiatek sprinted towards the ball, almost executing a split in the process, which allowed her to return the shot effectively. She secured a backhand point after Navarro’s response, granting her a 3-2 lead. The match continued for another 25 minutes, but Navarro was unable to secure another game.
Afterward, a replay indicated that Swiatek had not reached the ball before it bounced twice, prompting Navarro to reflect on the rules that prevent officials from reviewing such scenarios unless a player pauses during the match—something Navarro did not do at that moment and instead continued to compete.
She later questioned the chair umpire, Eva Asderaki-Moore, after noticing the replay on a screen, asking, “Did you see that?” However, the umpire replied that Navarro had played on, and thus a review was not possible. Navarro is advocating for a shift in the rules that would allow players to view replays after points, regardless of whether they continue to play.
“The athletes should be allowed to see after the point, even if you play. It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you’re just, like, ‘Oh, I guess I’m playing,’” Navarro explained. She emphasized that it would be disheartening to stop the point only to find out it wasn’t a double bounce.
Navarro was uncertain if Swiatek was even aware that the ball had bounced twice. Swiatek was later questioned about that moment in a press conference and admitted she hadn’t paid attention to the replay. “I didn’t look up for the screens because I wanted to stay focused and didn’t want this point to stay in my head for a longer period,” Swiatek stated. The Polish athlete, who has already claimed five Grand Slam titles, is set to face American Keys in her next match, with the winner advancing to the finals against either Aryna Sabalenka or Paula Badosa.
“I wasn’t sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame,” Swiatek concluded, noting it was challenging to determine with the intensity of the match.
