American tennis star Alison Riske-Amritraj accused the umpire of “sleeping” during her doubles match in a fiery exchange Friday at the Australian Open.
The first-round match involved Riske-Amritraj and her Czech partner Linda Fruhvirtova against Russian partners Natela Dzalamidze and Alexandra Panova. Up 3-1 in the second set after dropping the opener and at deuce, the point was halted by chair umpire Nico Helwerth and awarded to the Russians, causing Riske-Amritraj to unload on the umpire and then an official.
During a volley, Riske-Amritraj’s shot hit her opponent in the leg and Riske-Amritraj apologized to her immediately after it happened, before the American put the next shot away for a winner. But the umpire somehow didn’t see the ball hit the Russian’s leg and consequently awarded the point to Dzalamidze and Panova because of Riske-Amritraj’s “hindrance.”
“That’s the rule,” he added.
“Once it hit her, that’s when I said sorry,” Riske-Amritraj shot back at Helwerth. “I wouldn’t have said sorry if I didn’t hit her. It hit her leg, it didn’t hit her arm or racket.”
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
Alison Riske-Amritraj pleads her case after her shot struck her opponent in the leg. Nine’s Wide World of Sports
“If I don’t see that, I cannot judge it,” the umpire responded.
The American called for a supervisor, who was unmoved, saying the call was the umpire’s to make.
Riske-Amritraj exploded, saying, “What the hell is he doing up there, then? That’s f–king ridiculous, Caroline. That’s ridiculous. Is he sleeping? I wouldn’t say sorry.”
“The way you see it, the way you see it. I’m sure you see it that way,” Riske-Amritraj continued in a mocking tone of the umpire. “That’s ridiculous. That’s absolutely ridiculous. Pay attention dude. That’s tennis 101.”
Chair umpire Nico Helwerth Nine’s Wide World of Sports
The tense exchange only slowed Riske-Amritraj and Fruhvirtova, though, with the pair coming back to win the match, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-5, to advance to the second round.