A FORMER Wimbledon quarter-finalist caught the ire of crowd boos for his “ridiculous” celebration after his controversial win at the Estoril Open in Portugal.
Hometown favourite Nuno Borges was beaten 6-2, 7-6 (6-3) by Cristian Garin to book a place in the semi-final.
That was tasty
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 5, 2024@Garin_Cris defeats Borges 6-2 7-6 to reach the last four
#EstorilOpen pic.twitter.com/ns8gWfDAjC
However, at a crucial stage of the second set, Garin, 27, was the beneficiary of a “horrible” call from umpire Christian Rask.
When facing a break point in game six of the set he had hit a forehand to the baseline.
This prompted someone in the crowd to shout “out”, though Borges sent a return shot back.
Borges, 27, then seemed to stop playing due to believing a call had been made before Garin hit another forehand over the net to his left and wide of the court.
But Rask inexplicably awarded the point to the Chilean to return the game to deuce.
The call was met by boos from the crowd and vehement protests from Borges.
After approaching the umpires chair, the Portuguese No1 said: “It’s not my fault. The sound is not the same.
“Just because someone says ‘Ahhhh’ or ‘Ooohh’ – it’s not my fault.”
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Rask replied: “I know it’s not. I understand that, but I can’t replay the point. I can’t do that.”
Supervisor Carlos Sanches was then summoned to rule on the call, with Borges arguing: “He missed it in the alley, that’s what I’m saying.
“He missed the shot. I kept the point going. Then the call was out – somebody called it out.
“You’re saying someone called the previous shot on the baseline out and then he missed one wide – that was the official call.
“Listen, there’s many people making a lot of noise in the middle of the point.
“This is the first time you say that this one matters, when it’s a break point and I won the point. You understand?”
The umpire said back: “From my point of view, the thing is when someone calls ‘out’ I cannot stop the point or replay the point.”
Borges continued: “Maybe we repeat the point? There’s no way I can lose this one because I made the shot and he missed.
“And if he was influenced by the shot when we repeat [the point], if that’s your judgement.”
In the end, Sanches sided with Rask and the remainder of the match was played out under a choir of boos.
Garin – who the Wimbledon last eight in 2022 – then went on to win the match via a tiebreak, celebrating with a loud shout at the end.
Taking to social media, fans slammed both the umpire’s decision and Garin’s celebration.
One fan said: “I’m not understanding how the point was lost. I wouldn’t agree with a replay either but at least that resets the score. But a loss, how?”
A second said: “He should have walked out that’s outrageous. How can someone win a point with hitting the ball out…”
A third said: “Garin’s behavior is simply unethical. Like do you really feel comfortable winning a point like that? At least tell the referee to repeat the point.”
A fourth added: “Wow, egregious error. No way Garin actually got the point here. Horrendous mistake from the umpire. Terrible sportsmanship by Cristian Garin.”
Tennis journalist Gaspar Riberio Lanca called Garin’s celebration “ridiculous… considering the circumstances,” and highlighted how he was booed before the on-court interview.
2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios added: “This umpire should be fired and never be able to take place in another match. Disgrace.”
Garin’s semi-final is being played out later today against No2 seed Hubert Hurkacz.
No1 seed and defending champion Casper Ruud is in action in the other semi-final against Pedro Martinez with the final taking place tomorrow.
Earlier this week in Estoril, a broadcaster was forced to apologise when the TV footage switched to that of bikini-clad women at the beach.
