The third set tiebreak was played in the first round of the Masters 1000 de Indian Wells in between Jaume Munar y Yibing Wu, when the Chinese tennis player had match point at 6-3. There a curious situation occurred within a large point, that finally handed the game over to recent champion Dallas.
After an exchange from the baseline, Wu played a dropshot that Munar managed to reach, and played a ball that the Chinese could only reach by diving to volley. He reached the ball, but when it fell to the ground, his racket touched the net, when the ball had not yet bounced twice in the Spanish court.
The match judge Aurelie Tourte, despite keeping her gaze fixed on Wu, did not notice that the Chinese tennis player’s racket had touched the net, and gave him the point and the match, despite Munar’s justifiable annoyancewho reproached him for not having noticed.
The ITF rules agree with Munar on thisindicating the following: “The point is lost if: The player or the racket, regardless of whether it is in his hand or not, or whatever the player is using or carrying touches the net, the singles posts or shafts, the rope or metal cable, the belt or the opponent’s course at any time while the ball is in play”.
Despite the fact that it was impossible for the Spaniard to reach the volley played by Wu, the racket touched the net while the ball was still in play, so the point should have been awarded to Munar. Finally, Wu won 6-7(6) 6-0 and 7-6(3).
Check the video of the point:
