In a first-round encounter at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Milos Raonic defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-7(12), 7-6(4), 6-3 after the two competitors fought to a 26-point first-set tie-break.
The moment Tiafoe led 13/12 in the tie-break, though, was the one that generated the most discussion during the game. After a protracted rally, the Canadian tennis player’s return hit the net and rose. After pursuing the ball, Tiafoe finally caught it and curled a cross-court winner past Raonic.
Raonic thought he ought to have won the point because his momentum caused him to contact the net before the ball had made two bounces. The point would go to the Canadian. Fergus Murphy, the chair umpire, disagreed.
Murphy first decided in Raonic’s favor, penalizing him for a net touch. But he swiftly corrected himself and backtracked. Reason? Tiafoe had made contact with the net outside of the singles stick.
Murphy’s ruling was captured on court microphones. “Wait, Frances, this is complicated… This part of the net is not considered a touch. A touch should count only after the singles post,” Murphy informed Raonic.
A second officer on the court confirmed the ruling. Raonic was enraged by the decision and smashed his racket on the bench.
“I don’t have faith that they were being completely honest, but it is what it is,” Raonic remarked later after defeating his ninth seeded opponent. “I believe they just handled it poorly.”
“Whatever the regulation (was), I don’t believe it was handled properly.”