Aryna Sabalenka strolled into the Australian Open final yesterday, beating Elina Svitolina in overwhelming fashion.
The Belarusian was rampant from start to finish, combining her ruthless power with a level of control that few on the planet could have competed with.
However, this quality threatened to be thwarted when, early in the very first set, the umpire made a bold decision.
She penalised Aryna Sabalenka for a hindrance after the 27-year-old made an extra noise after her grunt following a mis-hit.
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Naturally, she took issue with the ruling, which was upheld after a video review.
Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport have since discussed the controversial flashpoint from what was an otherwise tame and routine affair.
Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport discuss Aryna Sabalenka’s umpire complaint
Speaking on Tennis Channel, it was Navratilova who first offered her verdict, staunchly disagreeing with the Australian Open umpire.
She simply stated: “No, no, it shouldn’t have been called. I don’t think it should have been called.”
Davenport, however, delivered a more nuanced view, adding: “She’s definitely done worse [than that] that’s not been called.
“I think what normally should happen is a soft warning to a player. Listen, hey, you can make sound when you’re making contact. These days, it seems like the grunting sound is now extending to when the ball has crossed the net and onto the opponent’s racket. That should not be allowed. That could be made clear. That didn’t seem that loud.
“It was kind of a broken-up grunt, but if they’re gonna police it, great, there should be a warning to her beforehand, like, “Hey, listen, you can grunt, but it’s gotta stop when you make contact. And I think that message wasn’t maybe clearly delivered to Sabalenka, but it fired her up.”
Naturally, in her post-match press conference, Sabalenka also took aim at the umpire, claiming she made ‘the wrong call’.
Aryna Sabalenka was fired up by the umpire’s punishment
I think Sabalenka herself would admit that, maybe three years ago, such an event would have completely derailed her match.
Instead, speaking after claiming the win, she argued that it inspired her.
Naturally, she still argued her case to the umpire mid-match, but laughed as she saw her complaints fall on deaf ears.
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Sabalenka would then go on to claim an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 win, stating: “It actually helped me and benefitted my game. I was more aggressive. I was not happy with the call, and it really helped me to get that game.”
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