'I Thought This Is Umpire's Job': Iga Swiatek On Double-Bounce Controversy
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Iga Swiatek destroyed yet another opponent at the 2025 Australian Open, but her last match was discussed mostly because of a double-bounce controversy.
The Polish player has been unchallenged by any of her opponents at the Australian Open this year. In the quarter-finals, Swiatek easily cruised past Emma Navarro, beating the American player 6-1, 6-2.
However, her dominant display didn't make the headlines as much as did one controversial moment during the match. At 2-2 and AD-40 up for Swiatek in the second set, the Polish player chased down a drop shot from her opponent.
It wasn't clear whether the WTA World No. 2 caught the ball before it bounced the second time, but the rally continued without the umpire, Eva Asderaki, interrupting it.
Eventually, Swiatek won the rally, leading 3-2 in the second set. After that, she won also all of the remaining games in the match. However, the replays later showed that she shouldn't have won the point.
The ball clearly bounced twice, and even though it likely wouldn't change the outcome of the match, given how much Swiatek dominated, she was asked about it after her win, admitting that she didn't check the replay immediately after, as she didn't want it to impact her.
"Honestly, I didn't see the replay after this point because, after the point, I didn't look up at the screens because I wanted to stay focused and didn't want this point to stay in my head for a longer period of time."
"I wasn't sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame. It was hard to say because, like, I was full sprinting. I don't remember even seeing the contact point. I don't know. Sometimes, you don't really look when you hit the ball. So I wasn't sure."
At the same time, Swiatek expected the video review to decide about the point, but since that didn't happen, she shifted her focus already to the next game.
"I thought this is like the umpire's kind of job to call it, you know. I was also waiting for the VAR, but I didn't see it, so I just kind of proceed. I already focused on the next one."
Swiatek was then told that umpire Eva Asderaki told Swiatek's opponent, Emma Navarro, that she couldn't use the video review because she didn't stop the rally immediately.
Many tennis fans, analysts, and pundits were bewildered by this rule and immediately called for a change. The Polish player was asked about it as well, but she distanced herself from giving a clear verdict, believing in the umpires.
"I don't know. I never really thought about it deeper. I would have to analyze more. Honestly, this is first time something like that happened to me, so I'm not sure. But I think they already had kind of a lot of time to think it through."
"So if there would be some better option, I think tennis would use it. We already had some, like, tense situations in other matches and also ATP last year. I guess the referees kind of think about it. It's their kind of job to make the proper rules."
