'This is a joke': Australian Open match stopped for 10 minutes after 'wild' argument
A mixed double match at the Australian Open was halted for 10 minutes in just the second game as the players and the umpire argued over a hindrance call.
The match descended into chaos in only a few minutes when Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray challenged a call against Marcelo Melo and Barbora Strycova, but played on and hit a winner.
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Melo and Strycova claimed Mattek-Sands’ call counted as hindrance during play and the umpire agreed giving the point to the pair.
But this did not sit well with Murray who was reportedly “screaming” at the umpire over the rule.
A very lengthy (maybe 10 mins) debate about the hindrance rule in the Murray/Mattek-Sands vs Melo/Strycova mixed doubles match. Referee on court and everything. Strycova: “This is a joke!”
Btw, it’s only the second game of the match. #AusOpen— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 26, 2020
That was a TEN-MINUTE delay. It deserves an oral history ASAP. #AusOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 26, 2020
Jamie Murray and Bethanie Mattek-Sands have been arguing for so long that their opponents sat down. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/QsuEgPUwRt
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 26, 2020
All booting off in Jamie Murray's mixed doubles match.
There is a 10 minute (and 29 second) delay between points as Barbora Strycova labels an umpire call "a joke".
She also has a pop at Murray before we finally resume... with smiles.— Jonathan Jurejko (@J_Jurejko) January 26, 2020
Enjoying Jamie Murray vs the umpire in the mixed
— Finlay Dick (@FinlayDick) January 26, 2020
Yeah couldn’t hear anything live because there’s no court mics (apart from when Murray was SCREAMING)
— Avid Tennis Fan (@avidtennisfan) January 26, 2020
This incensed Strycova who came to the net and argued with Murray.
She was overheard claiming “this is a joke” as everyone argued.
A supervisor entered the court and tried to calm the situation down but was unable to resolve the dispute.
Eventually, the situation was resolved as the supervisor and umpire overturned the point and gave it to Mattek-Sands and Murray.
Mattek-Sands and Murray also went on to claim the match in three sets.
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