Australian Open 2020 video - Jamie Murray doubles match subject to TEN-minute delay over argument
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ByEurosport
Updated 26/01/2020 at 11:12 GMT
Jamie Murray and partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands beat Barbora Strycova and Marcelo Melo to make the second round of the mixed doubles at the Australian Open, but not without some controversy.
Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States celebrate after winning match point in their Mixed Doubles first round match
Image credit: Getty Images
As early as the second game of the match, play had to be halted for no less than 10 minutes as a storm erupted over a challenge made by the pair.
Murray challenged a shot from their opponents which was not called out but appeared to land beyond the tramlines.
However, play continued with Mattek-Sands hitting a winner. The umpire then gave the point to Melo and Strycova, citing Murray's intervention.
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Jamie Murray's doubles match halted for TEN minutes as heated argument erupts
The American argued strongly that with the ball fizzing at her from close range she had no option but to try and play, with Murray believing his challenge should have been sufficient to register at the time, rather than play continuing.
"If you call a hindrance, then you have to challenge the ball," Mattek-Sands said to the chair umpire.
"Then you (the chair umpire) heard it, so you have to challenge it.
How else are you supposed to call a challenge in the middle of a fast point? Do you know how fast the ball comes at me? No, you're up there. He (Murray) can't stop (the rally) if I'm hitting the ball. He (Murray) stopped.
Murray also lost his cool, shouting:
What are you talking about! I'm not the one hitting the ball, she's hitting the ball. How can I stop the rally? I'm not hitting the tennis ball. What are you talking about?
After a lengthy delay, which saw their opponents first take a seat, and then join in the fracas with Strycova pointing her finger at Murray, another official helped decide that the challenge was valid.
The technology then ruled that the ball had indeed landed out, with Murray and Mattek-Sands finally being given the point.
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