In the second round of the Guadalajara Open, an inspired Sloane Stephens eased past Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in straight sets 6-4,6-4 to move into the Round of 16. Stephens hasn’t performed particularly well this season but is on a roll this week. She also defeated 6th seed Caroline Garcia in the third round in straight sets to make it to the last 8 where she’ll face third seed Jessica Pegula.
But during her fairly easy second-round clash against Bencic, she was a victim of a very poor umpiring blunder. After Stephens won the opening set, both players started the second set with a lot of intensity and were ruthless on serve. Bencic was trying her best to hold while Stephens was pushing for a break. During one of the rallies in the fifth game, the lines judge called one of Bencic’s balls out. The Swiss was quick to challenge the call which turned out to be correct as the ball had landed in.
After the call was overturned, chair umpire Marija Cicak straightaway gave the point to Bencic to everyone’s shock. Stephens had returned the disputed ball well and according to the rules, the point should’ve been replayed because the ball was still in play. But Cicak thought Stephens missed the shot and didn’t even bother to check the replay. This was a huge umpiring blunder.
Watching Stephens – Bencic from yesterday and what happened here is a pure robbery. Not only from Cicak, who made a big mistake, but from Bencic too, cause how on Earth could she think she deserved to win this point? Its giving Pome – Hsieh at Wimbledon.
— Marty (@Svitoflopina) October 20, 2022
Stephens was also very confused with the call but didn’t argue much because even she wasn’t sure if she played the ball in or not. Eventually, she got the decisive break a few minutes later and went on to win the match in straight sets.
Twitter calls out Belinda Bencic and the umpire for a bad call in Guadalajara
Tennis fans on social media were very upset by the poor umpiring standard and called out the umpire for the same. They even bashed Bencic for not showing any class and instead taking a point that wasn’t rightfully hers.
I think it's on the umpire completely and not Bencic. We expect players to concede points but to them honestly EVERY point (at least for non-Big 3 players) matters – as momentum switches bw players by a huge magnitude, so why should they?
— Rudra (@tsitsipain) October 20, 2022
This is why auto line calls are better
Ump having to pay attention to the person making the challenge, what the person not making the challenge is doing with the ball, where the balls lands after the challenge, pressing all the challenge buttons on the tablet… it’s a lot
— House Of Squirrel (@amithedrama_) October 20, 2022
I'm surprised Sloane didn't make a bigger deal of this. Was she not sure herself?
— Fantasy Tennis League (@FantasyTennisL1) October 20, 2022
After reading your comment I was watching and mid through the video thinking "she'll call for replay the point, what's the big deal, it sure wasn't Stephens' point". Then my jaw dropped on the floor.
— TeIegrammiDiTennis (@TelDiTen) October 20, 2022
Stephens is to nice, I know a few players that would have argued their point. Unbelievable from Bencic I hope she sees this and issues an apology. So glad Stephens won!
— SleepingAgent (@Sleeping__Agent) October 20, 2022
What a disgrace both umpire and Bencic
— The 🐐 is Nole (@nams_saggi) October 20, 2022
Wth? Wow it’s like the point was stolen twice! Replay was already a consolation since she has already won the point if not for that wrong call.
— VeeSun (@VeeSun5) October 20, 2022
Terrible umpiring. I think she knew she was wrong too. Players should be able to ask for a second replay.
— fletch22 (@fletch2215) October 20, 2022
This is actually a fairly common error by umpires.
They don't have access to a video replay, and often don't remember what happened AFTER the mistaken line call.
The onus is on the player who wrongly benefits to speak up.
— Will Ritter (@RittOnTwitt75) October 20, 2022
Ok. I’m outraged. I need clarification from @wta about how they protect and stand up for their players, and for the integrity of the game. This ain’t it. #Sloane was calm and collected to walk off the court as she did because #Belinda did not win that game. Nothing was over. Man.
— Mary (@onemarymarks) October 20, 2022
Stephens will now face Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals after defeating Caroline Garcia in the Round of 16.
