Iga Świątek reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open . However, the situation from the quarter-final match between the Pole and Emma Navarro was widely reported . At one point, the 23-year-old won a point after a double bounce of the ball. The American wanted to verify this action, but the referee did not give permission.
The situation was widely commented on social media. “Oh my god. We have robots everywhere, and we don’t have them to see double bounces,” Jon Wertheim of “Sports Illustrated” commented on X. The post was shared by Martina Navratilova , along with a short description. “HA!” she wrote.
The journalist decided to bring up the subject again and refer to both Świątek and the legend of women’s tennis. He emphasized that it was the first Grand Slam tournament for the Polish player after the doping scandal and that she should, that she competes honestly. According to Wertheim, the action from the match with Navarro did not work in the WTA vice-leader’s favor.
Martina Navratilova is one of many former stars who claim that the best players instinctively know whether the ball bounces once or twice. Even if you take Swiatek’s word for it that she wasn’t sure whether her shot was legal – note her lack of celebration after ‘winning’ that point ,” he said.
“If he admits it, it will be a huge sporting gesture. If he wins the match, the headlines will say, ‘Świątek shows integrity on his way to quarter-final victory’. Instead, it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many ,” Wertheim added.
