Hullabaloo erupts at Maria Sharapova’s triumph over Caroline Wozniacki – Tennis News
Semi-final of the Sony Ericsson Open was a victim of controversy when the chair umpire overruled the call of the linesman. The match was played between the two former world number one players, Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova.
It was the decisive point of the match and the second seed Russian contender was serving and 40-30. According to the linesman she missed her second serve that would have been a double-fault and scores would have been tied at 40-40
or it was a deuce situation. Unfortunately for the Dane, the chair umpire, Kader Nouni, reversed the decision immediately and ordered the point to be replayed.
Wozniacki was furious at this decision and she had no reviews left. Although, the video showed that the chair umpire was quiet right and the serve was legal but still it aired a controversy and angered the sixth ranked Dane. Moreover,
Sharapova had an opportunity to fire in the first serve and she did; won the point and marched into the grand finale of the Sony Ericsson Open for the fourth time in her career.
The Dane had some words exchanged with the umpire on her departure from the court and didn’t shook hands with him. Sharapova was very displeased with the ending of such an enthralling battle. She stated, “Obviously you don't want
it to end that way. It was a pretty crucial point. When the ball is so close, I think he (umpire) should give her a chance to challenge, at least when I don't have any challenges."
It was good to hear that the Russian was ready to challenge the call herself had it not been overruled. She was unhappy with the fact that her opponent ran out of challenges. The glory moment for the Russian was ruined with this
call and everything ended miserably. She further added, “It's obviously a tough situation to be in because it's so close to the end of the match, and both of us had fought so hard for over two hours."
The Russian will take on the fourth ranked Pole starlet, Agnieszka Radwanska, in the final of the tournament on Saturday.
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