After the refereeing error that affected the Monte-Carlo semi-final between Sinner and Tsitsipas, we are back to talking about technology on claybut this time because of a controversial episode. This time the setting is that of the Caja Magica in Madrid and the protagonist is Rafael Nadal. Unlike the Principality tournament, in Spanish Masters 1000 there is the hawk’s eye on the Manolo Santana Stadium (which from 2025 will be adopted in all tournaments on the circuit and on any surface). In Madrid, therefore, in the event of a doubtful point on the central defender, it is not necessary to mark the hit on the ground after stopping the game – thus requesting “human” verification from the chair judge – but you have to call the challenge.
The episode between Nadal and De Minaur
All this, however, was not done by Nadal in the match against De Minaur. It all happens in the third game of the first set. The Spaniard, down 15-30 on his serve, he stops and scores a dubious shot on the ground of the Australian who, in the meantime, closes the point. The chair umpire, the British Fergus Murphy, does not come down for the check, but calls the 15-40. The reason? Nadal did not request the challenge for the electronic verification. A decision that sparked the Majorcan’s anger, accompanied by boos from the public towards the referee. “In these cases you have to ask for the challenge quickly” explained Murphy, trying to calm Nadal’s anger. The replay then certified that the ball was indeed out, but the point had no impact on the result given Rafa’s victory in two sets.
