Djokovic Pushes for Tennis Video Replay

Novak Djokovic has urged tennis authorities to implement video review systems after a contentious finish to Jack Draper’s match at the Cincinnati Open sparked a broader discussion on the use of replays in the sport. Draper, the British No. 1, secured a victory over Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, but the match concluded amid heated disputes. Auger-Aliassime contended that Draper’s winning volley had touched the ground before going over the net, but the umpire, Greg Allensworth, could not access a replay to verify the claim. The situation escalated when the match supervisor was called to the court but found no basis to overturn the decision due to the absence of replays. Draper, who claimed he did not see the incident, refused to replay the point, leading Auger-Aliassime to express his frustration, stating, “It’s going to look ridiculous.” In response to the incident, Djokovic took to social media, emphasizing the need for video replays to avoid such embarrassing situations in the future. Draper’s journey in the Cincinnati Open ended in the quarter-finals, where he lost to Holger Rune 4-6, 2-6. Rune will face Frances Tiafoe in the next round, while top seed Jannik Sinner is set to compete against Alexander Zverev. In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek advanced to the semi-finals after a comeback win against Mirra Andreeva, setting up a clash with Aryna Sabalenka.