In a dramatic Round of 16 match on Wednesday at the Dubai Tennis Championships, rising star Coco Gauff staged a remarkable comeback to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, but not without stirring controversy due to a contentious ruling by the chair umpire.
Facing off against Karolina Pliskova, Gauff found herself trailing after dropping the first set 2-6. However, displaying her trademark resilience, she bounced back strongly in the subsequent sets, eventually clinching victory with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The pivotal moment of the match occurred with Gauff leading 4-2 in the second set when a disputed call by the umpire, identified as Bacchi, drew the ire of both players and spectators alike. Initially ruled out, Gauff successfully challenged a serve shot, only to be instructed by Bacchi to replay the point, sparking a heated exchange between the American player and the official.
The incident escalated as Gauff repeatedly requested to speak with a supervisor, seeking clarity and resolution. Despite her persistence, her appeals were rebuffed by Bacchi, leading to a prolonged dispute captured on video, which quickly went viral on social media platforms.
Former tennis champion Andy Roddick expressed disbelief at the umpire’s handling of the situation, highlighting the apparent mishandling of Gauff’s reasonable request.
“This is an absurd exchange for this umpire,” Roddick remarked on X. “1. He’s completely wrong 2. He’s lying about being wrong. 3. She must have simply said 10 plus times, I’d like the supervisor. That’s not a judgement call. He simply needed to honor that normal request and call the supervisor.”
The incident reignited discussions surrounding the role of officials in tennis matches and the importance of upholding fairness and transparency in decision-making processes.
This is an absurd exchange for this umpire. 1. He’s completely wrong 2. He’s lying about being wrong. 3. She must have simply said 10 plus times, I’d like the supervisor. That’s not a judgement call. He simply needed to honor that normal request and call the supervisor. Coco did… https://t.co/wk6lcEvONR
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) February 21, 2024
As Gauff progresses in the tournament, the controversy serves as a reminder of the challenges players may face on the court, both in the form of formidable opponents and the decisions of those tasked with officiating the matches.
Coco Gauff in 2024
Ranked no.3 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 22nd of February when she lost to world no.40 Anna Kalinskaya 2-6 6-4 6-2 in the quarter in Dubai (draw).
Until now, during this year Gauff owns a 12-3 win-loss record. Coco conquered 1 title in Auckland.
Coco Gauff |
| Embed from Getty Images |
