Miami /SONY Andy Murray Needed A Rulebook On Court. How could Novak not Know ?

Argentina’s Damian Steiner has been regarded as one of tennis’ leading umpires for the last five years and as regular Supervisor at ATP Challenger events is perceived as having an excellent grasp of the rules of the game. However Andy Murray would have good cause to query that reputation after a glaring error in umpiring during the Sony Open quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic.

 

Steiner adjudged that Djokovic had not broken the rules and awarded him the point after the Serb clearly reached across the net with his racket and hit the ball on Murray’s side of the court. Djokovic even admitted his guilt in the matter but still the point – a crucial one as it came close to the end of the first set – was awarded to him by Steiner.

 

Television footage showed a bemused rather than furious Murray saying: “You’re having a laugh, man, you can see it on the replay! Even Novak said his racket was over the net!”

 

Steiner replied saying he thought Djokovic had hit the ball directly over the net rather than on the far side. “Over the net is fine but you cannot hit the ball on the other side,” he said although television evidence proved him wrong by more than 12 inches.

 

Murray, who by virtue of his failure to defend the title he won last years will now slip down the ATP World Tour rankings to eighth position, his lowest placing for nearly six years, momentarily lost his focus and went on to lose the match 7-5, 6-3.

 

Speaking of the incident, he said: “If it was over the net, it was over , and I was right to complain. I went and asked Novak, and he told me he was over the net. That was it.”

 

However he added: “I’m not angry. It maybe had a slight bearing on that game, but I was still up a break in the second set.”

 

Djokovic insisted he was unclear on the actual rules, saying: “Look, it might be my mistake. I think I crossed the net with the racket. I didn’t touch the net. Maybe the rule is that you are not allowed to pass on his side with the racket. I’m not sure.”

 

The world no.2 added he would have gladly conceded the point if he had been clear about the rule. “It’s not my fault,” he said. “Obviously, chair umpire didn’t make the decision. I mean, I was never lying on the court. I always try to be fair to whoever I play against.”

 

Later in an ESPN television interview with Brad Gilbert, Djokovic repeated: “It might be my mistake as well.” Mindful of his mistake in last year’s French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal when he touched the net he added: “I think I cross the net with the racket, I didn’t touch it.

 

Djokovic is a great believer in fair play and gave away a point in his previous match against Tommy Robredo. “For me, it’s something as normal,” he continued. “If I judge that I couldn’t win the point, that I had no chance to get that ball back in court, or if I see the ball good, I’m going to tell him to challenge it. For me it’s something that is part of the sport.”

 

In the ATP World Tour Rulebook, Rule 24 (h) states: “The point is lost if the player hits the ball before it has passed the net.” Umpire Steiner concluded: “I have to make a decision at the moment.

Content via Bob Larsons news.

Topics: Andy Murray, ATP Rulebook, djokovic, Miami, Sony Open, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Umpire

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