'Are you insane?': Incredible reaction after umpire's atrocious call
Jordan Thompson was the third Australian men’s hopeful to win through to the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday, but not before his opponent literally threw himself to the court in frustration over a horrendous umpiring call.
The world no.66 claimed a straight sets win over Kazakhstani Alexander Bublik, earning a second round match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini
While Thompson controlled the match from start to finish, a truly woeful call from the umpire left Bublik lost for words during the second set.
‘ALL CLASS’: Ash Barty's brilliant act for embarrassed ball girl
‘YOU TRIED’: Serena's blunt response to 'absurd' Meghan Markle question.
Down a break after losing the first set, Bublik’s first serve was overruled by the official, with the Kazakhstani immediately challenging the call.
Replays showed the ball had landed well inside the service line - tipping an already frustrated Bublik over the edge.
A bad call by the ump, and didn't Alexander Bublik show his displeasure!
Watch: @9Gem
Stream: https://t.co/yizqD30Pp8#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/U9Bx7YqaQ9— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 21, 2020
“Are you insane,” Bublik yelled out at the umpire once the replay had been confirmed.
“Don’t look at me.”
The umpire leaned away from the microphone and said something to Bublik, prompting him to sit down on the court in pure frustration, before eventually continuing the set.
The crowd was also amused by Bublik’s reaction, laughing as he attempted to regain his composure.
Fans were laughing again a short time later, when an audible first serve let wasn’t called for several moments, an awkward moment the crowd was more than happy to capitalise on.
Tennis fans on social media saw both sides of the coin, with some amused by the bad call and others wondering about Bublik’s exaggerated reaction.
Kazakhstan's Kyrgios, @SebCostello9 ?
— Mark Santomartino (@msanto92) January 21, 2020
Jordan Thompson v Alex Bublik Update:
Bublik roasts the Umpire after a serve was called out, but Hawkeye revealed Bublik was correct.
“Are you serious” he screams and then rolls around the court laughing. Bizarre and very watchable scenes live now on @9Gem! #AustralianOpen @wwos— Seb Costello (@SebCostello9) January 21, 2020
A bad call by the ump but a worse call by the commentator. Bublik handled the situation with humour instead of downright anger even though he was entitled to be furious.
— Paul Nolan (@pwnolan) January 21, 2020
Is this guy actually serious? #bublik #AustralianOpen
— Rich (@richliveshere) January 21, 2020
Excellent day for Aussie hopes
John Millman remains on course for a grand slam return bout with Roger Federer after downing Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the opening round of the Australian Open.
Millman won 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 1-6 7-5, with Humbert losing his nerve in the final game on Tuesday, serving two consecutive double faults to close out the match.
Wildcard entrant Marc Polmans had to work much harder before edging past Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 in a marathon encounter lasting four hours and 17 minutes.
It was a gutsy display from the 22-year-old Polmans who had to regroup following the disappointment of blowing three match points in the fourth-set tiebreak.
Earlier on Tuesday, rising Italian star Jannik Sinner ended the campaign of local hope Max Purcell.
Sinner was on the brink of victory, leading by two sets to love, when heavy rain interrupted their first-round clash on Monday afternoon.
When play resumed under clear skies on Tuesday, the Italian needed only a few more minutes to close out the 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-4 win against Purcell, who had advanced to the Melbourne Park main draw through qualifying.
Sinner defeated Australian Alex de Minaur in the final of last year's Next Gen championships in Milan.
WITH AAP
