"Coco Gauff’s Paris Open Drama: How a Controversial Call Ruined Her Tournament"
Coco Gauff's run in the Paris women's singles tournament ended abruptly after a controversial call reversal in her match against Croatia's Donna Vekic.–
Near the end of the second set, with Gauff trailing 2-3, 30-40, a line judge's "out" call on Vekic’s forehand shot was reversed by the chair umpire, affecting Gauff's stroke.–
The reversal resulted in Vekic’s shot being ruled in, and Gauff’s return shot was deemed a fault, giving Vekic a crucial break in the match.–
Gauff protested the decision vigorously, pointing out that the call had been made before she hit the ball, but the chair umpire dismissed her concerns.–
International Tennis Federation referee Clare Wood intervened, but Gauff expressed frustration, feeling repeatedly cheated during her matches.–
Despite crowd support and criticisms directed at Vekic, Gauff struggled to regain her composure and lost the second set, ending her tournament run.–
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The incident highlights the role of chair umpires in over ruling line judges’ calls when a clear mistake is identified, as per ITF rules.–
The chair umpire has the authority to make such overrules promptly, according to ITF guidelines, affecting the outcome of points and matches.–
The French Open's reliance on line judges contrasts with other Grand Slam tournaments like the U.S. Open, which uses video review systems for accuracy.–
Gauff’s history of disputed calls includes a similar debate at the 2024 French Open and a February incident at the Dubai Championships, showing her ongoing challenges with officiating decisions.