Outrageous Umpiring at the Sunfeast Open

Yesterday evening, I happened to watch the closing moments of the 1st round doubles match between Sania Mirza/Liezel Huber and a rather fat pair of Ragini Vimal/Archana Venkatram in the Sunfeast Open at Kolkatta. In the penultimate point (actually forced to be the penultimate point), one of Huber's shots was returned by one of their opponents along the side-line and fell almost half way between the singles and the doubles side-line i.e comfortably in. This was a break point on Huber's server. Huber, on seeing the ball land correctly, immediately threw the other ball she had with her (for the second serve) and decided to prepare herself for the next game. Vimal and Venkatram also enjoyed the moment. Suddenly, the chair umpire called "Deuce". All were surprised!

Vimal and Venkatram tried to argue with the umpire, but to no avail. The commentators were blasting the line-umpire for such an atrocious decision. Ultimately, after few minutes of commotion, the game continued and Huber served to win the match.

The commentators called it "The worst decision they have ever seen". Huber commented about this after the match "It is the umpire's fault. She has not given the decision rightly. But it is neither mine nor Sania's responsibility to point out the mistake to the umpire. We are only concerned about our game"!

Shame on the umpire!

Technorati tags: Tennis Doubles Kolkatta Sunfeast+open Sania+Mirza Liezel+Huber

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