Ranting at Wimbledon: German Tennis Player Fumes Over "Insane" Call
Disgruntled German Tennis Star Laments Regretful Career Choice
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Tamara Korpatsch, the German tennis player, is baffled after a controversial call at Wimbledon, practically costing her a place in the main draw. It's all about the tiniest detail, the net post, which Korpatsch insists was wrongly deemed a fault.
Korpatsch, ranked 157 globally, started the match impressively, winning the first set 6:1 in just 26 minutes against her Slovakian opponent Renata Jamrichova, ranked 328. But the momentum shifted after the one-sided first set, with Korpatsch eventually losing the second set 5:7, despite leading 3:2 after breaking her opponent's serve.
In the deciding third set, Korpatsch was at a 2:2 tie when she attempted a two-handed backhand return that hit the single post of the net. According to the rules, the ball should have rebounded into the court since it hit the outer net post. However, the umpire deemed it a fault, costing Korpatsch the game and the advantage.
Korpatsch's Outburst: "That's Not Possible!"
"This is the most ludicrous decision I've witnesses," fumed an incensed Korpatsch on social media. "This flared up at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in the world, not some low-key ITF event," she expressed her disbelief and fury.
On the court, Korpatsch protested fiercely against the umpire's decision, supported by her opponent who seemed just as bewildered. Korpatsch pointed toward the single net post: "It hit here." The umpire, however, insisted that the ball had hit the doubles post to which Korpatsch responded, "No, no, no," before gesturing wildly and declaring, "That's not possible." She continued, "Everyone" could see it was a bad call before eventually yelling frustration across the court. Korpatsch also expressed her disdain for grass courts, commenting "I'm so done with grass" on an Instagram story.
Despite the commotion, Korpatsch ultimately lost the third set 5:7 and the match. Jamrichova also failed to advance to the main draw by losing in the second round of qualifying.
According to tennis regulations, net posts serve a purpose in singles matches, as they support the net and maintain its height. Players are not allowed to touch the net or posts during a point, and if the ball hits the posts and bounces out, the point is lost. At Wimbledon, the net posts are positioned 3 feet (0.914 meters) outside the singles sidelines and remain in place throughout the match.
While Wimbledon has committed to implementing electronic line-calling technology by 2025 to minimize umpiring errors, incidents like this demonstrate the challenges players face due to officiating incompetence. Despite the rigorous rules in place, Korpatsch fell victim to this unfortunate incident, potentially losing the most significant tournament of her career due to a mistake that, in her opinion, was easy to spot.
Sports-analysis has shown that the controversial call at Wimbledon, which disadvantaged Tamara Korpatsch, significantly impacted her performance. During the third set of her match against Renata Jamrichova, a call regarding a two-handed backhand return hitting the net post was repeatedly questioned by Korpatsch, with tennis regulations suggesting the ball should have rebounded into the court. This call, according to Korpatsch, was a critical error in the sports of tennis and at the esteemed tournament of Wimbledon, highlighting the importance of accurate officiating in high-stakes sports-analysis.
